Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Here is a very nice U.S. single barrel 10 bore percussion fowling piece, signed in fine script on the lock J. Tonks Maker, Boston, which is also very faintly visible on the top strap of the barrel. Joseph G. Tonks and his brother Alfred were gunmakers located in Boston, Massachusetts, who worked from the 1840s up into the 1860s. They were very well known at the time, starting out using imported barrels, but later fabricating entire guns, including early hammer shotguns.
This example is half stocked, with a very heavy 32 inch long barrel, and features all iron fittings with a lovely carved horn nose cap. It does look to have been restored at some point in the past, with the metalwork and barrel completely refinished. The barrel has a matte finish now, and the other metalwork shows a lovely dark gunblue finish. This looks to have been done some time ago, as there has been some oxidation to the blued components, and also to the sides of the barrel. We checked the lock, and it is functional, however it will fire at half cock with a strong trigger pull.
Pulling out the barrel wedges allowed us to remove the barrel, and the bottom is marked with a 10, indicating the size of "10 Bore", or approximately 0.775". It also is marked with the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC proof and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V viewed marks from the English city of Birmingham, with another "Viewed" mark on the breech plug. These are the correct markings for pre-1853 manufacture.
The walnut stock is in very good shape, looking to have been refinished when the rest of the gun was refurbished. The the wrist is checkered, which is still strongly present, and shows an extremely high level of craftsmanship. The fore stock is also checkered, and still retains the texture well, however there is also a repaired crack on the right side, and a wood graft repair on the left. We noted that there is a brass escutcheon on the wrist with some initials, which looks to have been added later.
A lovely example of a mid 19th Century Fowling Piece by a notice Boston maker, made with a British barrel. Ready to research and display!
Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: circa 1840
Caliber: about .780" - 10 bore
Ammunition Type: Lead ball / shot and Powder
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 56 inches
Action: Back Action Percussion
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
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 not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
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, 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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