Original flintlock trade gun, mid-18th century. English or Low Countries made with French features.

For your consideration, an original 1750s or 1760s trade flintlock gun

This firearm has a very interesting combination of English and Continental features (detailed below). It could be a flintlock fowler made by an English gunmaker or by gun makers in the Low Countries (Holland or Liege) for English merchants. The French inspiration on some details shows the important influence of the French roccoco design at this time period. It could also be an indication of the endeavour or the Britich merchants and authorities to take over the French trade among the Native nations of North America used to French goods, especially French firearms.
Please read carefully the description of this piece of gunmaking and trade history.

• Overall length : 58''
• Barrel : 42", octagonal to round ; wedding-band barrel transition ; pin fastened ; breech-top adorned with engraved, brass inlayed, floral scroll decorations. Unidentified marks under the breech.
• Bore : 0.63, smoothbore
• Stock : Walnut, fluted Roman Nose,
• Ramrod : iron ; old but more than probably a replacement.
• Hardware : brass

The lock is original but the cock/hammer  and its top jaw are recent replacements.
The sear spring is broken. There is a crack in the stock between the lock inlet an the trigger plate.

Note the ‘’cloud’’ finial of the butt-plate tang and the ‘’cloud’’ shape of the side-plate.
They are reminiscent of the French rococo fusil ornaments but without the engraving.
Some features appear to be of the English style (the trigger guard shape, the butt-plate
profile), but others like the tang and side-plate and the lock suggest French influence.
This trade musket seems to be a French-inspired English trade musket, that could have
been introduced in the North American market during the 7 Years War or just after for
taking over the market of Natives customers used to French goods.