AS13 - 22 bore Portuguese flint long fowling piece, circa 1820
An elegant and very nicely made sporting gun of the early 19th century. Long (117cm), engraved and embellished browned barrel retained by three moulded copper alloy bands and fitted with copper alloy ‘spider’ fore-sight; the octagonal breech is signed (in capitals) ‘Lazaro Lazarino Legitimo de Braga’ on the flat and struck with Liège proof mark. The whole is engraved with foliage, has an engraved tang, border-engraved flat lock retained by three side nails, engraved with sprays of foliage. It is fitted with the characteristic short cock (also known as a Roman lock) and has a figured full stock carved with foliage behind the rear ramrod-pipe and about the tang; even the frizzen spring is embellished! The squared, fluted butt, typical of this area, has copper alloy mounts comprising butt-plate, trigger-guard with foliate terminals and side nail washers. The wooden ramrod with steel worm is most probably the original. Very clean and crisp overall, it does not looks to be refinished.
A Lazarino father and son are recorded in Braga active 1783 and circa 1800-50 respectively. Since the son was known to make guns using barrels from Birmingham and Liège, I would consequently date this gun to him and sometime in the 1820’s, before percussion.