Original British Rare Early Georgian Break Action Removable Steel Cartridge Breech Loading Flintlock 10 Bore by Robert Rowland of London from the W. Keith Neal Collection - Circa 1720
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Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptional and extremely rare early Georgian British breech loading flintlock gun by Robert Rowland of London, dating to circa 1720 and formerly part of the renowned W. Keith Neal Collection. The gun employs an ingenious break action system using a removable and reloadable steel cartridge chamber, together with a self priming mechanism incorporated into the breech.
Operation is remarkably advanced for the period. Pulling the sliding trigger guard to the rear unlocks the action, allowing the barrel to tip upward so that the removable steel cartridge chamber can be withdrawn from the breech. At the same time, the flash pan rotates and opens toward a small adjacent powder compartment, allowing the pan to be automatically primed for the next shot. The sophistication of the design and the precision required to manufacture it place this among the more technically ambitious sporting arms of the early 18th century.
The gun measures approximately 42 1/4 inches overall and is fitted with a 26 5/8 inch 10 bore swamped, three stage tip up barrel.
The barrel and breech are extensively decorated. The barrel is engraved with acanthus foliage, while the barrel tang terminates in a distinctive engraved “Devil’s Mask” finial.
The gun is stocked in highly figured walnut and features a carved shell motif surrounding the tang. There is an old repaired crack through the grip area, which has been left as found and not further altered.
The rear of the wrist is fitted with a decorative escutcheon bearing an engraved owner’s monogram that appears to read either:
PR
or:
TR
The lock plate is signed: R / ROWLAND
The top of the octagonal breech is engraved: R - ROWLAND - LONDINI
The Latinized LONDINI identifies London and confirms the gun as the work of Robert Rowland.
Robert Rowland was admitted to the freedom of the Gunmakers’ Company by redemption on April 7, 1715 and died in 1721, placing the manufacture of this gun firmly within the earliest Georgian period.
Rowland is known to have produced firearms for the London merchant John Tournay, including both a gun and a rifle dated 1718 using the same general breech loading and self priming system represented here. These surviving examples help establish that this was not an isolated experiment but part of a highly sophisticated and very limited series of advanced sporting arms produced during Rowland’s brief working career.
The left facet of the barrel bears London proof and view marks:
CROWN / GP
and:
CROWN / V
Between them is an R within a vase mark, likely associated with Rowland.
Attached to the trigger guard by wire is an original die stamped collection tag marked: WILLIAM KEITH NEAL COLLECTION
The tag displays crossed guns surmounted by a stag’s head, with the motto: TRUTH WILL CONQUER
The reverse is stamped with collection number: G318
W. Keith Neal was one of the most influential British firearms collectors and authors of the 20th century, and his collection contained some of the finest and most historically significant early firearms assembled in private hands.
This type of early Rowland breech loader is documented in W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back’s Great British Gunmakers, 1570–1740 on pages 403–404, plates 169 a–e. We do not presently have a copy of the volume available to determine whether this exact gun is one of the examples illustrated, but the surviving WILLIAM KEITH NEAL COLLECTION tag confirms that this firearm was part of his collection.
Condition is very good overall. The metal surfaces have developed a deep and attractive aged patina with no evidence of serious neglect or abuse.
The bore is clean and clear, although there is evidence of previous fouling consistent with historical use.
The action remains fully functional. The break action mechanism operates correctly, allowing the barrel to tip for removal of the cartridge chamber. The self priming feature has not been tested and its present functionality is therefore unknown.
The removable steel cartridge or chamber presently accompanying the gun is a later replacement, most likely made during the 19th century after the original chamber was lost. It should not be represented as the original circa 1720 component.
This is an extraordinary survival from the earliest period of practical British breech loading firearm development. Its highly unusual break action system, removable steel cartridge chamber, self priming mechanism, extensive engraving, Robert Rowland signatures, London proof marks, and documented W. Keith Neal Collection provenance combine to make it a particularly important early Georgian sporting arm.
Specifications:
Year of Production: Circa 1720
Caliber: 10 Bore, approximately .775 Inch
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Black Powder in Removable Steel Chamber
Barrel Length: 26 5/8 Inches
Overall Length: 42 1/4 Inches
Action: Flintlock, Break Action Breech Loader
Feed System: Single Shot, Removable Reloadable Steel Cartridge Chamber
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