The gun was very little used, the barrel retains 98% original brown; overall, 100% original, missing one chip of wood at the muzzle along left side of channel which we can have restored. This fowler is undecorated with only a simple silver thumb piece, all brass furniture including a nice engraved brass trigger guard with long tangs and a brass trigger. Signed on the lightly engraved lock, "WILLIAM READ / BOSTON" Magnificent front sight in the 18th century style set far back from the muzzle. Original aged ramrod - it has been in position so long that all the sections covered by the ferrules have not faded. The octagonal to round barrel with unusual tapering flat continuing to muzzle is made of two pieces. The likely reason for this is that at the time of manufacture no barrel maker was offering stock of this length; to facilitate the length requested by his customer, William Read had to fabricate the barrel in two pieces. Super fine condition mechanically and aesthetically. This gun was in no doubt been used for waterfowl hunting in the marshy areas around Boston.
SOLD
473 Main Street, P.O. Box 129W, West Townsend, MA 01474
Ph. (978) 597-8084 | Email drh@aaawt.com
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