An Extremely Rare and SUBURB Revolutionary War Period British Brass Barrel Flintlock Blunderbuss with spring bayonet by KNUBLEY, LONDON
An Extremely Rare and SUBURB Revolutionary War Period British Brass Barrel Flintlock Blunderbuss with spring bayonet by KNUBLEY, LONDON, c. 1775. 16" octagon to round flaring blunderbuss barrel engraved on the top flat "CHARING CROSS, LONDON" and stamped with (2) oval proofs on the left flat of breech. Iron trigger guard and spring bayonet. The bayonet is mounted on the underside of the barrel and is released by a second trigger located behind the firing trigger. Extremely rare Queen Anne style firing mechanism with sliding safety built into a box-lock frame and is maker engraved "KNUBLEY" on the left side. The tang of the brass frame is engraved with a panoply-of-arms and the owners initials "R H C" (unidentified but have been told it could be Royal Highness of Clarence, Duke of Clarence who was King George III third son). The blunderbuss is in its original flintlock configuration. The stock has wonderful checkering on the wrist and is solid with light scratches and dings from years of handling. Original brass tipped wood ram rod with worm and end cap mounted on the lower left side of the barrel. 31" overall length. A fantastic looking ship's or coaching blunderbuss in good mechanical working order.
NOTE: This is the first an only blunderbuss of this configuration that I have seen in or out of any Museum. A true rarity is fantastic condition.
ABOUT THE MAKER: John Knubley, gunmaker, Otley, Yorkshire, 1771. Sword Cutler & Gunmaker, 11 Charing Cross. Gunmaker to Prince of Wales, Duke of Clarence and Prince Edward. Contractor to the Ordnance (cannon locks, trade muskets, pistols, broadswords), 1790-1794. Died 1795.
POSSIBLE CONNECTION: Duke of Clarence and St Andrews was a title awarded to a prince of the British Royal family. The creation was in the Peerage of Great Britain.[1]
While there had been several creations of Dukes of Clarence (and there was later a Duke of Clarence and Avondale), the only creation of a Duke of Clarence and St Andrews was in 1789 for Prince William, third son of King George III. When William succeeded his brother to the throne in 1830, the dukedom merged in the crown.
TTI-568322
