A RARE EARLY 19TH CENTURY OVER AND UNDER FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY ...

Hammer

£6,000

A RARE EARLY 19TH CENTURY OVER AND UNDER FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY STAUDENMEYER, LONDON of Native Indian interest, with brown Damascus rifled barrels signed on the upper flat and applied gilt armorial, signed and engraved lock plates, gold-lined touch-holes, engraved blued trigger guard and chequered walnut grip with blued steel patch box; serial number "1015", dating to 1805, the silver oval cartouche engraved with the original owner's name "TAYONINHOKARAWEN", John Norton, Mohawk Chief. Gold plaque engraved with the Royal Coat of Arms. John Norton (Teyoninhokarawen) was born in Scotland to a Cherokee father and a Scottish mother. After serving with the British, he was adopted into the Mohawk Nation by Joseph Brant and became a respected Mohawk chief, warrior, and diplomat. During the War of 1812, Norton played a vital role in securing Indigenous support for the British and fought with distinction in several key engagements. Norton believed that the Mohawk and other Indigenous allies had never received the recognition they deserved for their loyalty and service to the British Crown. Using his influence and friendships with prominent figures, including Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, he lobbied the British Government to honour these warriors. As a result, a series of presentation rifles was commissioned from the renowned London gunmaker Henry Tatham. These finely crafted rifles closely resemble this earlier rifle made by Staudenmayer around 1805, John Nortons rifle by Staudenmayer may have served as the inspiration for Tatham's celebrated series of Indigenous presentation rifles. (114cm overall)