Beschreibung:

J. HAYTON, GRAHAMS TOWN AN EXCEPTIONAL 16-BORE/.500 BELTED BALL PERCUSSION CAPE-RIFLE WITH TROPHY RIB, serial no. 7430, circa 1860, with heavy etched fine damascus browned 30in. side by side barrels, the broad top-rib signed behind the rear-sight 'JOHN HAYTON GRAHAMS TOWN 7430' within a complex engraved border, the section of rib forwards of the rear-sight graduated in one inch increments for measuring trophies, dove-tail for fore-sight (absent), blued six leaf 'African' rear-sight with platinum lines to each blade and a further standing leaf, none notched, colour-hardened carved and moulded breech-blocks with percussion fences, platinum plugs and full scroll engraving to the rib-end, borderline and scroll engraved colour-hardened long top-tang, border and scroll engraved bar-action colour-hardened locks signed 'J. HAYTON', scroll engraved en-suite hammers (one hammer screw absent), chequered walnut half-stock with large rectangular patch-box to right hand side of butt with scroll engraved hinge and lid, the central portion of lid with a circular panel engraved with a prowling lion, colour-hardened smooth iron heel-plate with triple-stepped spur with border and scroll engraving, engraved replacement trigger-guard bow from another with raised chequered pistol-grip tang, plain etched damascus ramrod thimbles and replacement ramrod, the rifle retaining all its original colour-hardening, the browning darkened, the whole with the appearance of little use and light storage marks only Other Notes: This rifle was purchased by the vendor from the collection of Chris Sedgewick of Cape Town, South Africa. It is possible that the rifle was never fully completed, born out by the replaced ramrod and triger-guard, but is undoubtedly one of the best condition Hayton rifles in existence