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punt gun

barrel brownerbarrel browner Member Posts: 2 ✭✭
edited January 2008 in Ask the Experts
I been offered an eight bore punt gun by william burnett of southampton england this is all the info I have can you give me an idea of value? William burnett was in business at 18 st michael square in 1836, from 1843-53 his address was 153 high st,the barrel on the gun is made by charles lancaster (damascus twist) the serial no is 609 london proof marks, stamped c.l. Lacaster started in business as a gun barrel maker in drury lane london in 1811 he supplied barrels to the trade and was barrel maker to Joseph manton, in 1826 he set up as a gunmaker at 151 new bond st,and by 1814 had a royal appointment to the prince consort.brass trigger guard and butt plate both engraved, barrels 41 1/2 inches long,stock 31 inches, a small old repair to ramrod otherwise all original finish remaining. thank you in advance.
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Comments

  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Few people today know what a punt gun is. A punt gun is usually thought of as a market gun, usually single barrel, very large bore and long, long barrel made to shoot from a prone position in a boat to take a large number of ducks with one shot. Basically you have a huge double barrel shotgun.

    http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=18536

    I found this double shotgun by Mortimer for $1850, restored to like new. Your gun as simply described might be called excellent. I think its 8 bore size might work against getting max price for a double perc shotgun but this offers one piece of info from probably the largest dealer in antique guns. My opinion considering supply and demand, about half that number might be closer to the street or gun show price for yours.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello I know that anything larger bore then a 10 Ga. was outlawed in the U.S. A. with the first Migratory water-fowl bill . Of course I doubt anyone would ever attempt to hunt with the gun you are looking at. I agree that there is a VERY limited market but some times when something is outlawed to use most are scraped and those left because they are so rare and part of history of bygone days the market rebounds and they do become more valuable sort of like BEAR TRAPS here in the U.S. The price is only what someone is willing to pay at that moment.
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  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i was always told that if it could be shouldered, its not a punt gun. 8 bore was more common. 4 bores were killers and if it was mounted to a boat, it was a true punt.
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bobski
    i was always told that if it could be shouldered, its not a punt gun. 8 bore was more common. 4 bores were killers and if it was mounted to a boat, it was a true punt.


    Is that not how they acquired their name? Did they not PUNT their shooter into next week?[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by bobski
    i was always told that if it could be shouldered, its not a punt gun. 8 bore was more common. 4 bores were killers and if it was mounted to a boat, it was a true punt.


    Is that not how they acquired their name? Did they not PUNT their shooter into next week?[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]


    With that stock length and small a bore size, it's unlikly it's a real punt gun, as they tended to be larger than 4ga and were usually fitted with a pintal or swival mount (think small cannon)
    The type of boat they were mounted on are called punts or punt boats.
    Below is a cut of a Holland & Holland (cartridge type) single barrel punt gun breach, note the lockup methiod, mounting swivel, and also the length of the buttstock.
    Picture211.jpg

    As far as being "kicked" into next week by recoil, that only happens to girly-boys, not to manly-men.
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  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i win![:D]
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • magmag Member Posts: 464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The boat was called a punt.
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  • m.j.ryanm.j.ryan Member Posts: 91 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    A punt is a small, flat bottom boat with squared ends and low freeboard (sides). When I lived in Lakehurst, NJ in early 1960's, I saw punt guns at a local museum near Toms River that were 4 bore or larger, with barrels 6 feet long that threw 1 1/2 pounds of shot.
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  • agostinoagostino Member Posts: 414 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland punt guns were used to kill flocks of geese and ducks on the water, usually at night, long after they were outlawed. Most were home made except for the locks. The recoil would move the boat about 10 feet through the water. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD has a number on display. Their use was described in a book entitled "The Outlaw Gunners."
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