Original French 18th Century Silver Mounted 22 Bore Double Barrel Flintlock Fowling Piece by Jean-Baptiste Berardy of St. Étienne with Demon Carved Stock - Circa 1785
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Original item: One of a Kind. This is a magnificent French 22 Bore Double Barreled Flintlock Fowling piece, a truly one of a kind offering which we are unlikely to ever see the likes of again! It is fully mounted with silver, much of it heavily engraved, showing an extremely high level of artistry. If anything, the stock is even more impressive, showing an incredible amount of hand carving that must have taken an extremely long amount of time to accomplish. There is a "Demon Head" carving on the underside of the butt stock, showing inlaid bone teeth in the mouth, and even mother of pearl eyes with black irises! There is a similar design just below the barrel tang, complete with eyes, though it is much smaller and does not have any type of mouth.
The gun features two lovely browned 22 bore barrels measuring 30 inches in length, giving the fowling piece an overall length of approximately 46 inches. These show some masterful gold inlay worn around the breech area, and there is some gold inlaid script on the top of the barrel, which looks to read:
Canons en
Fer de Faulx
This inscription is very well retained, and thanks to a customer email, we now know the correct reading and meaning. In literal terms it translates to "Iron Cannons from Faulx" However, the intent of the meaning is that the barrels were made from iron taken from sickles or scythes, with a possible reading as "Reaper Steel". This would be similar to the fowling barrels made from "stubs" and other materials such as used horse shoes and nails. It was thought that the use of hardened the iron made it superior for gun barrel manufacturing. It is also possible that the steel was made in one of several French or Belgian locations named "Faulx", but we believe the former is more likely.
The right side lock plate of this fowler is faintly marked BERARDY, with a faint ST ÉTIENNE on the left side lock. This is the marking of known high end firearms maker Jean-Baptiste Berardy of St. Étienne, who worked at this location 1783-1788, placing this magnificent fowling piece fairly firmly in the late 18th Century. The gun maker was highly regarded at the time, and his works are highly desirable and collectible today.
Overall condition of the fowling piece is simply great, with the silver mountings still mostly bright, and the gold inlay work on the barrel is magnificent. There is some tarnishing to the silver, but that is to be expected, and we have not cleaned them up to avoid removing any material. There also appear to be silver hallmarks on the butt pad, which would easily be damaged. The gun has front and rear sling swivels, which are made from silver as well, and it has a lovely bone tipped ramrod under the barrel, which has a metal fitting on the other end, though there are no attachments included.
The stock is truly lovely, still showing a fantastic color, with the carved and engraved designs still quite crisp. There is a break and a small repair running through the stock at the very front of the locks, which shows some pin repairs, as well as a small wood graft on the bottom. This graft was however carved to match the rest of the stock, so it is difficult to see. We do not recommend any further attempts at repair be made, as they would only result in damage to the carvings on the stock.
This is truly a one of a kind offering, a magnificent fowling piece by Berardy, most likely custom made for a very well-heeled customer. This would find a welcome home in any collection of fine French firearms!
Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: circa 1785
Caliber: 22 Bore - Approximately .596"
Ammunition Type: Lead Shot & Powder
Barrel Length: 30 inches
Overall Length: 46 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. 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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
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