Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

471
A RARE PAIR OF FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSSES BY JOHN
DAFTE, CIRCA 1680-85
with three-stage barrels swelling towards the muzzles,
stamped with London proof and Foreigner’s marks at the
breeches, engraved barrel tangs, signed rounded locks
engraved with pairs of lines around the borders (worn),
figured walnut full stocks carved with a raised moulding
about the tangs (one grip cracked through and repaired,
the fore-ends with minor repairs), full brass mounts
comprising pierced scrolling side-plates with profile dragon
mask terminals, butt-plate engraved with border ornament
and scrolling foliage, trigger-guards with acanthus finials, a
pair of moulded ramrod-pipes, and escutcheons engraved
with the owner’s crest and motto, each fitted with a steel
saddle ring on the side-plate (later ramrods)
471
76.8cm; 30D in
(2)
The Crest is that of Duff of Scotland.
John Dafte was made Free of the Gunmaker’s Company in
1668. He was implicated in the Rye House Plot of 1683, the
Horrid Conspiracy, when the Duke of Monmouth and
others planned the assassination of King Charles II and the
Duke of York on their return from Newmarket. Dafte was
interrogated and found not guilty, being described as a
‘very honest fellow’. See J. S. Cooper and K. J. Westwood
1989.
£5000-6000
219