Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. Here is a most interesting Belgian Double Barrel Flintlock Fowling piece, most likely made when they were occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte's French Empire. It bears the E / L G / * in an oval Liège city markings on the left side of the barrel assembly. The entire piece is extensively signed by H.LEE in multiple places. The barrels are signed H. LEE LONDON on the left, and H. LEE Me. Fecit (Made This) on the right.
This fine fowling piece measures 54" in overall length with 37 1/2" approximately 20 bore barrels. Removing the barrels shows a few stamped markings, but nothing specific regarding maker or bore. It features all Continental style iron mounts in quality wood stock, with a very nice cheek piece on the left side. The butt stock also has silver plaques inlaid on each side, three on the right and two on the left. The small rectangular one on the right side is marked H.Lee 1795, and is the least ornate. The two more ornate right side plaques have some interesting statements as follows:-
To Kill
Sea Fowles & Moor Fowles
And a short rhyme:
Made in old England & Used in Foreign lands
Came finally to New England hands
We assume that this refers to shooting birds at Sea and in a Moor, a tract of open land preserved for shooting. Most likely the person who added this had no idea that it was really a Belgian gun, sold by a London Retailer.
On the left hand side is an inlaid Spanish silver Coin of KING PHILIPPUS, who reigned 1700 - 1724, and then again 1744-1746. Towards the butt plate is the last engraving, which reads:
2 Good Guns
Wedded Make
1 Perfect Gun
H. LEE is not listed as a Gunsmith in London despite what the engraving suggests but very possibly he was the Owner of a Company of "Outfitters" supplying English /American Customers, or in fact was the original owner of this Shotgun in 1795.
The shotgun is in nice condition, though it does show use. The stock is solid, with a lovely color, though there is a repair around the ramrod pipe. It still retains the original brass tipped wooden ramrod, which has a clearly screw “worm” on the other end. The locks are in good condition, and both still function properly, holding at half cock and firing at full. The left side lock however is a bit finicky at times.
Now together with this Sporting Gun comes a NOTARIZED STATEMENT signed on April 16th 2019 by SAMUEL COLT WILSON SENIOR. This states that his Great Great Grandfather was SAMUEL POMEROY COLT, Son of the brother of the FAMOUS SAMUEL COLT who started the COLT FIREARMS COMPANY. He refers to a Book published in 1915 A LITTLE JOURNEY TO THE HOME OF SAMUEL POMEROY COLT by Elbert Hubbard. Apparently Pomeroy's will was extremely complicated, and it took until 1986 to be settled, even though he had passed away in 1921! This eventually benefited the Document writer's Mother, ELIZABETH COLT who died in 1987, leaving the weapon to SAMUEL COLT WILSON SR. who retained the Shotgun until 2019.
It also gives some nice history of the Journey that this very interesting fowling piece has taken during its long life. When it came to the U.S. is unknown, but it seems to have been owned by Galeb Knight of Coventry, RI. It then came into the hands of Samuel P. Colt around 1880.
A very nice and tight Belgian Double Barrel Flintlock 20 bore or thereabouts Fowling Piece dated 1795, with an Interesting COLT family connection. Fully cleaned and ready to display!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: 1795
Caliber: 20 bore - about 15.63mm
Cartridge Type: Powder and SHot
Barrel Length: 37 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 54 Inches
Action type: Side Action Flintlocks
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
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