ǂA FINE 18 BORE FRENCH SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION FUSIL DE CHASSE ROYALE BY PREVOST FILS, ARQUEBUSIER

ǂA FINE 18 BORE FRENCH SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION FUSIL DE CHASSE ROYALE BY PREVOST FILS, ARQUEBUSIER DU ROI, VERSAILLES, DATED 1816, FRENCH PROVINCIAL SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1809-1819, MAKER~S MARK J.M. BENEATH A MULLET converted from flintlock, with browned barrel, small areas of surface rust) formed with a long flat, fitted with silver bead fore-sight and large silver back-sight chased with rococo scrolls and fitting round the barrel, engraved with the royal cypher, a fleur-de-lys and numbered ~21~, engraved blued breech and tang, the former struck with the mark of Albert Renette beneath (Neue Støckel 8127), signed engraved case-hardened lock dated and numbered on the inside, figured walnut full stock carved with scrolls, and a swag of fruit behind the rear ramrod-pipe, chequered grip and fore-end, padded cheek-piece (leather covering largely missing), engraved full silver mounts including side-plate decorated with a swag and numbered trigger-guard with urn finial, silver escutcheon engraved with the crowned Royal Arms, original steel-tipped ramrod, and some early finish 97.4 cm; 38 3/8 in barrel Provenance Christie~s, 29th October 1980, lot 109 This gun belongs to a Royal group of essentially similar firearms made by De Sainte, Lepage and Prevost. All are numbered on the mounts and some on the locks and barrels. Another example, by De Sainte, is preserved in the Bayersiches National Museum, Munich. See Schalkhauser 1988, p. 281.