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200 year old flintlock

bootybooty Member Posts: 2 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have a 1781, Griffon & Tow, East India Company flintlock that I would like to know more about. It came second or third hand from some one who worked in India for years. It has shiny gold-colored inlay on various locations on the barrel as well as a wavey texture over the whole barrel. The stock is covered with large amounts of possibly mother-of-peral inlays as well as gold or copper colored wire inlays. Near the powder area is an inscripription. The inscription is in the shape of a heart or a shield. There are two perpendicular and diagonal lines seperating the heart/shield area into for pie-shaped segments centered at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock. In the 12 area there is a "V" or a Roman numeral "V" (5). In the 3 area the is a capitol "I". In the 6 area ther is a capitol "C". In the 9 area there is a capitol "E". The top of the inscription has the numeral "4" sprouting from it. Near the "Griffon & Tow" iscription is a small "W" with what appears to be a crown over it. I saw a similar gun in the British armory museum in Leeds, UK but without the inlays. Does anyone know anything about this gun? Does anyone know someone who may?mikegoedken@hotmail.com
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Comments

  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Booty, I don't want to make your heart stop, but I just saw one on "Antiques Roadshow" yesterday that yours sounds similar to. It was in very fine condition, and the owner was told it would auction for $60,000 to $80, 000. I have no personal knowledge, so I'm just telling you what the tube told me.
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Make his heart stop just about stopped mine LOLThats one of those guns you dream about finding in the attic of the old house you just boughtcongratulations Booty
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    This sounds like a museum piece. It's something that would have to be seen by an expert appraiser to be evaluated.I'd suggest that you take it to the biggest and best musuem in your area ask to be referred to a firearms appraiser. If they don't have one on staff, they can refer you to one.
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  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    All good answers Mike..Get it appraised by museum experts. At least several, a hundred if you can find them. In the meantime, insure the heck out of it, hold onto it with twelve fingers and sixteen toes!
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  • bobp14bobp14 Member Posts: 137 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    mike , i bet everone would love to see a pic. of it.
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  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I for one would love to see a pic. jkel@pghmail.com
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  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guys, I might be going overboard, but I sent booty an E mail telling him not to clean it or change it in any way until he has it appraised, in case he doesn't know. If you have usefull suggestions for him, lets help all we can.
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