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Lot 111
An English Bullet CrossbowBy Barker, Wigan, No. 303, Circa 1765
11 May 2016, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge£500 - £750
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Find your local specialistAn English Bullet Crossbow
By Barker, Wigan, No. 303, Circa 1765
By Barker, Wigan, No. 303, Circa 1765
With slender steel bow retaining old strings with turned bone spacers, folding adjustable fore-sight acting against a side-spring and mounted above the baluster finial, signed folding back-sight engraved with scallop shells, engraved built-in gaffle retained by a sprung catch at the rear, figured flat-sided tiller and gun butt, the former with large pointed steel side-plates securing an old repair, and steel mounts comprising bow mounts, scrolled side-plates, serial numbered butt-plate, and engraved trigger-guard (steel parts russet)
75 cm.
75 cm.
Footnotes
For William Barker of Wigan and for further information see Albert Littler, 'An Old Wigan Trade, The Sporting Bullet Crossbow and its Makers, 1640-1840, Journal of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries, vol. 34 (1991), pp. 30-41. For other examples of the Wigan maker's work see Christie's London, Antique Arms and Armour..., 18 July 2002, lots 225-233








