Identified NFLD Sealing/Birding Gun with Powder Horn

• Licensing Category: Antique
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• Description:

  This is a percussion about 9 bore Identified Newfoundland sealing or birding gun.  Overall length is 65" with a 48 3/4" part round/octagon barrel showing English proofs on the left barrel flat.  The lock has been converted to percussion and was originally sourced from a British military musket showing the remnents of the "CROWN/3" inspectors mark.  The lock was later marked "WOODCOCK"  The percussion hammer was commercial and has a notch associated with a former doglock.  The wood extends to the end of the barrel and shows an old ramrod capped with an early English large caliber cartridge case.  The left side of the butt is nicely carved with the name "WILLIAM BUTLER EP ROBIN HOOD" and dated "MAY 11 1869"  The piece exhibits a crude and very old repair to the wood on the right side of the tang.  The right side butt shows a unknown/unidentified name.  This name is probably an obliterated ship's name.  Guns of this type and period were pieces used on sailing vessels in the seal hunts.  It was not uncommon for the gunners to take their guns home in the off season.  If the guns were not returned it is not uncommon to find obliterated ships names.    This gun came to us with an orignal powder horn schrimshawed in the same style as the gun with the name "WILLIAM BUTLER" . Examination of the body of the horn shows that prior bird and/or animal markings were removed probably at the time that the inscription was added.  The horn is overall 15" tip to tip with a base of about 3".  A sound original horn.    It can be noted that "ROBIN HOOD" is a part of Port Rexton, Newfoundland. The obituary of William Butler is included.