A Rare Pair Of Brass-Mounted Flintlock Blunderbusses By R. Wilding, Salop, Early 18th Century With russet two-stage barrels each flared at the muzzle and signed 'R.W. Salop' along the top flat of the octagonal breech, plain russet tangs, signed rounded russet locks (both steels and one steel-spring old replacements, one cock-spur replaced) with an elaborate scroll on the 'W' of the maker's name, moulded figured full stocks (both with some bruising, splits and repairs) carved behind each rear ramrod-pipe and barrel tang, full mounts comprising flat side-plates (one a working replacement) of shaped outline engraved with scrolling foliage involving monster-head terminals, shaped escutcheons each engraved with a crest, a sun-in-splendour, border engraved butt-plates decorated with foliate scrolls on each heel tang, trigger-guards each with foliate finial, ramrod-pipes (one incomplete), iron rings for suspension, and horn-tipped ramrods, private Birmingham proof marks and Wildings' own barrelsmith's marks struck twice (2) 44.5 cm. barrels Footnotes: Provenance Sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms, Armour & Modern Sporting Guns, 31 July 2013, lot 640 The Penrose Collection The maker is almost certainly Richard Wilding Junior or perhaps his father Richard Senior. Only five other firearms bearing the Wilding signature are so far recorded including the fine silver-mounted flintlock sporting gun with silver and mother-of-pearl stock inlays preserved at Dudmaston Hall, near Bridgenorth, Shropshire. For this and more information on this family of gunmakers see Brian Godwin, 'Wilding, Salop - Gunmakers', J.A.A.S., Vol. XX, No. 3 (March 2011), pp. 102-112 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing