AR764 - Percussion 18 bore rifle with 18th century stippled barrel.
An 18-bore percussion rifle by William Smith, with much earlier Spanish barrel stippled along its entire length. Clearly a bit of late Georgian or Victorian recycling, reusing an expensive rifled barrel with new percussion technology. The 25¾”  sighted octagonal barrel is fitted with a white metal foresight, rear notch sight, the breech with maker's poincon DI. ESQVIBEI in white metal, further marked, in script ESQUIBEL en MADRID and dated 1719, platinum lined breech engraved J. SQUIRES, border engraved stepped and bolted lock signed WILLIAM SMITH PRINCES ST. LONDON, full stocked with some very neat and very well executed repairs to forend, chequered wrist, border and scroll engraved steel mounts, the scroll trigger guard with pineapple finial, brass topped steel ramrod. One assumes that the stippling - something I’d not seen before - was either an affectation or possibly to reduce reflection from the barrel when in use. Fitted with a high quality detented lock, with sliding safety; the lock retained by a single bolt, the front end of the lock hooks into a concealed screw; the lock is rust stained and no attempt has been made to clean it up, which could be easily accomplished with care. I am not totally convinced that the stock and lock are not re-worked from an earlier gun, making this an example of Victoria thrift, and no doubt telling a tale. William Smith, 59 Princes Street, father of Samuel and Charles Smith who took over their father’s business and premises in 1824; hence the basis of this rifle dates to the early-mid 1820’s. The renowned Spanish Gunmaker Diego Esquibel died in 1732. James Squires (1859-), likely related to Thomas Squires (same address: 14 Newcastle Street) a barrel maker in Whitechapel 1824-1831, clearly reusing an earlier Spanish barrel, the latter having good repute in the London trade. There are some, high class and skilled, repairs to forend.