An exceedingly rare and possibly unique 5 barreled “Duckfoot“ pistol made by Joseph Bunney circa 1776

Genuine 18th century four barreled Duckfoot pistols are rare enough. To find one like this with a five barrel configuration where the central barrel is in blunderbuss form is beyond rare. Joseph Bunney, who made pistols in Birmingham from 1765 to 1814, made this fabulous gun in 1776, based upon the silver hallmarks on the gun. He marked his guns "London" but all were made in Birmingham. The gun is profusely decorated with silver wire inlay and also has a silver grotesque face butt cap and rococco style silver escutcheon. This large and heavy piece measures nearly 12" long and incorporates 4 1/4" barrels. The selector lever allows the blunderbuss to be fired separately from the other four barrels. The barrels are numbered 6-10 which indicates that this pistol was one of a pair (wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to locate the other pistol). The gun comes in a beautiful brass mounted royal blue felt lined and fitted rosewood box which measures 19 1/2" by 10 1/4" by 5." The box dates to circa 1820-1850 and is clearly later than the gun itself. There is a trade label on the inside lid but the maker's name and address have been rubbed off. The 18th and 19th century contents are interesting but are not original to the box. They include the following: An early 18th century horn mounted folding magnifying glass, a small 19th century bellows for clearing the pan of any residual gun powder, a 19th century brass and copper powder flask, a bullet mold which is of the correct size for the pistol, an early 18th century Dutch fruitwood clay pipe holder, two clay pipes, a commemorative pressed horn snuff box for Charles Fox who died in 1806 and lastly extra flints and lead balls.