Fancy French Blunderbuss, c1750

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

Excellent, Dana !
Speaking of outstanding frizzens, i have once seen (and handled) a beautiful musket in the collection of a well known personality, in which the frizzen had the face of Voltaire, so that its owner, who hated him, could shoot his face at will.
... Believe it or not, that's what i was told.

I believe it. Wish this piece was marked with the owner's name.

[fernando]

Still if you dismount the barrel, you may find other marks.

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

Still if you dismount the barrel, you may find other marks.

I'm not ready to "dismount the barrel" but I doubt the owner information would be found there anyway. The maker's name can also be found engraved forward of the trigger guard. Note the wear that supports the likely hood that this weapon was more than a wall hanger.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by dana_w

I'm not ready to "dismount the barrel" but I doubt the owner information would be found there anyway...

I meant 'other' marks, not that of the one who signs the gun work. One other i know signed by Louis Lamotte has under the barrel 'Jean Merley St. Etienne', the actual barrel maker.

Originally Posted by dana_w

...The maker's name can also be found engraved forward of the trigger guard. Note the wear that supports the likely hood that this weapon was more than a wall hanger.

Mind you Dana, i am not (at all) trying to demote your perfectly operational blunderbuss to a 'wall hanger' status; only suggesting that you don't go out on a daily basis with such luxurious piece; like the coaches you see at the Lisbon National Museum . Certainly the owners of these fine pieces had more mundane versions for current occasions ... says i .

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[DaleH]

Oh my ... ! How about STUPENDOUS!

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by DaleH

Oh my ... ! How about STUPENDOUS!

Thanks for the additional adjective suggestion DaleH.

[fernando]

As you keep digging, you find that the Lamotte were a numerous family of Stephanois (Saint Etienne natives) gunmakers, active from end XVII to mid XIX centuries;Joseph Lamotte having being of the first in the line (1716-1807).
By the way Dana, how is your French ? Perhaps if you contact the FRENCH MUSEUM OF ART AND INDUSTRY they may be able to pass you precise information on the very Louis Lammote. They seem to be A VIABLE SOURCE.


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