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Double-Barreled Flintlock Shotgun with Exchangeable Percussion Locks and Barrels

ca. 1818–20; exchangeable percussion locks and barrels, dated 1860
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 375
Perhaps the richest and most beautiful gun from the last phase of Boutet’s long career, this firearm was made by him after the Restoration of the monarchy in France in 1815. Its exuberant decoration is reminiscent of the style fashionable before the revolution in 1789. The gun was so appreciated by its owner that, in 1860, he commissioned a group of skillful gunmakers to produce a similarly decorated set of barrels and locks using percussion caps, an advanced method of ignition developed after 1820.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Double-Barreled Flintlock Shotgun with Exchangeable Percussion Locks and Barrels
  • Gunsmith: Nicolas Noël Boutet (French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833)
  • Barrelsmith: Exchangeable percussion barrels by Léopold Bernard (French, Paris, active 1832–70)
  • Lock maker: Exchangeable percussion locks by B. Montagnon (French, active ca. 1850)
  • Retailer: Exchangeable percussion locks and barrels originally sold by G. Zaoué (French, active 1857–61)
  • Date: ca. 1818–20; exchangeable percussion locks and barrels, dated 1860
  • Geography: Versailles and Paris
  • Culture: French, Versailles and Paris
  • Medium: Steel, gold, wood (walnut), silver, horn
  • Dimensions: L. of gun 47 3/8 in. (120.3 cm); L. of double barrel 31 7/8 in. (81.0 cm); L. of percussion locks 5 in. (12.7 cm); L. of bullet pouch 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); L. of priming flask 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); L. of bullet mold 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); L. of ramrod extension 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm); L. of hammer extractor 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm); L. of brush for cleaning barrel 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); L. of bullet extractor 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); L. of screwdriver 6 in. (15.2 cm); L. of bullet extractor 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); L. of touch hole cleaner 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm); Cal. .61 in. (15.5 mm); Wt. of gun 6 lbs. 15 oz. (3150 g); Wt. of double barrel 3 lbs. 8 oz. (1600 g); Wt. of percussion locks 5 oz. (150 g); Wt. of bullet pouch 2.5 oz. (71 g); Wt. of priming flask 4.6 oz. (131 g); Wt. of bullet mold 7 oz. (198 g)
  • Classification: Firearms
  • Credit Line: Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942
  • Object Number: 42.50.7a–n
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Design for the Decoration of Firearms, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper, French, Versailles
Design for the Decoration of Firearms
Nicolas Noël Boutet
ca. 1795–1805
Designs for the Decoration of Firearms, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper, French, Versailles
Designs for the Decoration of Firearms
Nicolas Noël Boutet
ca. 1797–1805
Design for the Decoration of the Side Plate of a Firearm, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper, French, Versailles
Design for the Decoration of the Side Plate of a Firearm
Nicolas Noël Boutet
ca. 1797–1805
Design for the Decoration of Firearms, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper, French, Versailles
Design for the Decoration of Firearms
Nicolas Noël Boutet
ca. 1797–1805
Design for the Decoration of the Surround of the Ramrod Pipe of a Firearm, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper, French, Versailles
Design for the Decoration of the Surround of the Ramrod Pipe of a Firearm
Nicolas Noël Boutet
ca. 1795–1805

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