Three barrel pistol by J. BORTON

corrado26 · 6th April 2021, 02:39 PM

A pair of interesting boxlockpistols with three barrels shows the name "J. BORTON" at the left side of both lock boxes. This name is neither listed in the Neue Stoeckel nor in any other list or book. Both pistols show the private proof marks of Birmingham between 1780 and 1800, so this could have been if not a gunmaker perhaps a dealer in or around Birmingham. Does anybody here have an idea who this J. BORTON was?

fernando · 6th April 2021, 03:27 PM

Hi Udo,

I read J. HORTON (circa 1740-50)

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corrado26 · 6th April 2021, 05:23 PM

Firstly I also thought it was HORTON, but with a magnifier you can clearly see that it is BORTON. If this would be HORTON than the proofmarks wouldn't be correct- these are Birmingham private proof marks of 1780-1800 and the two gunmakers HORTON mentioned in the New Stoekel worked 40 years later around 1820-25

fernando · 6th April 2021, 07:38 PM

Funny thing; in the first image, where the letters are still 'solid', i do see a H and not a B.
You must have read the e-mail i sent you; why have Christie's 'invented' that J. HORTON was active 1740-1750.
It must be something else but, a family HORTON in the gun trade had an ancestor (Joshua) active in 1750.

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corrado26 · 7th April 2021, 10:46 AM

Thanks Fernando. It is really hard to decice wether it is a B or an H, but after having read your email and the additions here I think you are right: It must be an H of the HORTON-family.

fernando · 7th April 2021, 11:12 AM

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6th April 2021, 02:39 PM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,167	Three barrel pistol by J. BORTON A pair of interesting boxlockpistols with three barrels shows the name "J. BORTON" at the left side of both lock boxes. This name is neither listed in the Neue Stoeckel nor in any other list or book. Both pistols show the private proof marks of Birmingham between 1780 and 1800, so this could have been if not a gunmaker perhaps a dealer in or around Birmingham. Does anybody here have an idea who this J. BORTON was? Attached Images

6th April 2021, 05:23 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,167	Firstly I also thought it was HORTON, but with a magnifier you can clearly see that it is BORTON. If this would be HORTON than the proofmarks wouldn't be correct- these are Birmingham private proof marks of 1780-1800 and the two gunmakers HORTON mentioned in the New Stoekel worked 40 years later around 1820-25 Attached Images

6th April 2021, 07:38 PM	#4
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Just wonderig ... Funny thing; in the first image, where the letters are still 'solid', i do see a H and not a B. You must have read the e-mail i sent you; why have Christie's 'invented' that J. HORTON was active 1740-1750. It must be something else but, a family HORTON in the gun trade had an ancestor (Joshua) active in 1750. . Attached Images

6th April 2021, 03:27 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Hi Udo, I read J. HORTON (circa 1740-50) .

7th April 2021, 10:46 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,167	Thanks Fernando. It is really hard to decice wether it is a B or an H, but after having read your email and the additions here I think you are right: It must be an H of the HORTON-family.

7th April 2021, 11:12 AM	#6
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	.