Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of an early 19th century Spanish miquelet fowling piece, bearing much silver & gold inlay on the top of the barrel. It measures 49 1/2 inches in overall length, with a 34 1/2 inch long part octagon part round barrel. The bore measures out to about .730" inches, usually considered 12 bore or gauge, a very popular size for fowling then as much as it is now. The breech end of the barrel is covered with gold inlaid markings, including Fleur-de-Lis proofs as well as a shield shaped proof close to the tang. Above this is a Crowned makers name, which we unfortunately are not able to read accurately. Our best attempt with a 16X magnifier was as follows:

ALS
ECH
EBE
RIA

The barrel also has silver inlay on the top, giving the location and year of manufacture:-

Eibar, Spain is a city that had a sizable gun industry in the 19th Century, and we have had several examples made there before. These range from Miquelets up to pinfire revolvers, spanning many decades.

There is an additional crowned cartouche on the trigger guard, which fortunately is one that we have seen before! It reads:-

GUI
SAS
OLA

Antonio Guisasola was a Spanish gunsmith, also located in Eibar, who worked 1796–1833. His name has been recorded on both barrels and lock plates, and apparently he also made trigger guards. There is definitely some fantastic research potential in this fowling piece.

This lovely fowler features all iron mounts including a lovely engraved trigger guard and butt plate. The very elegant walnut wood stock has a beautiful checkering around the wrist. The beautifully made lock is made in the best Spanish Miquelet tradition, with engraving on the pan and hammer bolster.. The miquelet lock has a functional half cock position, which is linked to the trigger. The lock fires from full cock, and the frizzen is intact and functional. It comes with a wooden ramrod, though it is possible that it is a working life replacement.

It is very rare to find one of these fowlers in such fine condition with the inlay still bright. Truly magnificent and ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1818
Caliber: approx. .728 - 12 Bore / Gauge
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 34 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 49 1/2 inches
Action: Miquelet Flint Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded/p>

History of the Miquelet Lock:
Miquelet lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, for a type of firing mechanism used in muskets
and pistols. It is a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, once prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain's colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries.

The term miquelet lock was not recorded until the 19th century, long after the appearance of the mechanism in the 16th century, and is of uncertain origin. One commonly held view is that it was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the style of musket used by the Miquelet (militia) that had been assigned to the Peninsular Army of the Duke of Wellington.

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.

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.