Henry Nock
With 20 inch rebrowned barrels sighted and with a rib along the top, the barrel on the right side with faint traces of maker’s name at the breech, plain tang grooved for sighting, flat bevelled back-action lock engraved ‘Tower’ and with ‘GR’ crowned across the tail and stamped with crowned broad arrow Ordnance mark beneath the pan, bevelled cock with forward curl on the comb, and steel-spring mounted beneath the pan, figured butt (minor bruising), brass mounts of service pattern comprising flat scroll side-plate, butt-plate numbered ‘1’ on the tang and trigger-guard numbered ‘7’ on the bow, shaped brass escutcheon engraved with crest and initials, brass ramrod-pipes, the forward one with ramrod-retaining spring, and original iron ramrod. Tower private proof marks.
Provenance:
J.C.L. Knapton Collection
W. Keith Neal Collection
One of an order of five hundred guns of this pattern supplied by Nock throughout 1780 at a cost of £13 each. For further information see Howard L. Blackmore, British Military Firearms 1650-1850, 1961, pp. 91-93; and D. W. Bailey, British Military Longarms 1715-1865, 1971, p. 65, no. 71.
The crest and initials are believed to be those of Lovibond of Hatfield Peverel and Sandon.