Original Belgian Flintlock Double Barrel Flintlock Fowling Piece with Documentation from Samuel Colt Family – dated 1795 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. Here is a most interesting Belgian Double Barrel Flintlock Fowling piece, most likely made when they were occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte’s French Empire. It bears the E / L G / * in an oval Liège city markings on the left side of the barrel assembly. The entire piece is extensively signed by H.LEE in multiple places. The barrels are signed H. LEE LONDON on the left, and H. LEE Me. Fecit (Made This) on the right.

This fine fowling piece measures 54″ in overall length with 37 1/2″ approximately 20 bore barrels. Removing the barrels shows a few stamped markings, but nothing specific regarding maker or bore. It features all Continental style iron mounts in quality wood stock, with a very nice cheek piece on the left side. The butt stock also has silver plaques inlaid on each side, three on the right and two on the left. The small rectangular one on the right side is marked H.Lee 1795, and is the least ornate. The two more ornate right side plaques have some interesting statements as follows:-

To Kill
Sea Fowles & Moor Fowles

And a short rhyme:

Made in old England & Used in Foreign lands
Came finally to New England hands

We assume that this refers to shooting birds at Sea and in a Moor, a tract of open land preserved for shooting. Most likely the person who added this had no idea that it was really a Belgian gun, sold by a London Retailer.

On the left hand side is an inlaid Spanish silver Coin of KING PHILIPPUS, who reigned 1700 – 1724, and then again 1744-1746. Towards the butt plate is the last engraving, which reads:

2 Good Guns
Wedded Make
1 Perfect Gun

H. LEE is not listed as a Gunsmith in London despite what the engraving suggests but very possibly he was the Owner of a Company of “Outfitters” supplying English /American Customers, or in fact was the original owner of this Shotgun in 1795.

The shotgun is in nice condition, though it does show use. The stock is solid, with a lovely color, though there is a repair around the ramrod pipe. It still retains the original brass tipped wooden ramrod, which has a clearly screw “worm” on the other end. The locks are in good condition, and both still function properly, holding at half cock and firing at full. The left side lock however is a bit finicky at times.

Now together with this Sporting Gun comes a NOTARIZED STATEMENT signed on April 16th 2019 by SAMUEL COLT WILSON SENIOR. This states that his Great Great Grandfather was SAMUEL POMEROY COLT, Son of the brother of the FAMOUS SAMUEL COLT who started the COLT FIREARMS COMPANY. He refers to a Book published in 1915 A LITTLE JOURNEY TO THE HOME OF SAMUEL POMEROY COLT by Elbert Hubbard. Apparently Pomeroy’s will was extremely complicated, and it took until 1986 to be settled, even though he had passed away in 1921! This eventually benefited the Document writer’s Mother, ELIZABETH COLT who died in 1987, leaving the weapon to SAMUEL COLT WILSON SR. who retained the Shotgun until 2019.

It also gives some nice history of the Journey that this very interesting fowling piece has taken during its long life. When it came to the U.S. is unknown, but it seems to have been owned by Galeb Knight of Coventry, RI. It then came into the hands of Samuel P. Colt around 1880.

A very nice and tight Belgian Double Barrel Flintlock 20 bore or thereabouts Fowling Piece dated 1795, with an Interesting COLT family connection. Fully cleaned and ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1795
Caliber: 20 bore – about  15.63mm
Cartridge Type: Powder and SHot
Barrel Length: 37 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 54 Inches
Action type: Side Action Flintlocks
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded

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