Manufactured circa 1690-1700 by Paris of Warwick, a highly respected gun maker of the time. Nicholas (1) Paris settled in Warwick at 3 Jury Street between 1678-80 and was buried in the city in 1716. In 1684, Paris was granted the Freedom of the Smiths’ Company of Warwick. He was gunmaker to Thomas Leigh, second Baron of Stoneleigh, for whom he made some superb guns with multi-shot systems. In addition to being a gunmaker, he was a blacksmith, watchmaker, gilder and enameller. In 1694, his house and workshop at Jury Street burned down and much of his stock was destroyed. Its value was estimated at £200 (an inflationary equivalent of around $55,000 in current terms). The elegant brass barrel is of two stages with an octagonal to polygonal breech section and round flared forward section. The breech section is signed “N. PARIS” within a ribbon, struck with London proof marks and maker’s stamp, and engraved with foliage and border lines. The iron tang is engraved with further foliage. The rounded iron lock has a downturned tail, is signed “N. PARIS,” and is engraved with strawberry foliage. The molded, highly figured root wood stock has a raised apron around the barrel tang and is fitted with engraved brass furniture including a pierced sideplate. Wooden ramrod with brass cap. Bore estimated.

Good. The brass parts have clear engraving throughout, and there are some scattered age related storage and handling blemishes on the barrel. The lock has a light grey patina with some discoloration and clear engraving and signature. The frizzen has been replaced. The stock is fair and has numerous age related storage and handling marks and blemishes, some repairs including repaired cracks above and beneath the lock, and scattered old worm holes throughout. The ramrod is of recent manufacture. Mechanically excellent. A substantial early blunderbuss by a very fine English maker.