A piece of classic British Maritime history, and is now difficult to find.    This is a standard military item, and would have probably been carried by a Naval Captain in the late 18th Century.  This example has a 12", round, 24 bore, smoothbore barrel, with British Proof marks, and now to a grey metal patina, with minor dings, speckling, and stains of age and use.  The lockplate to the RHS is ordnance stamped.."Tower", Royal Crown, over "GR"and a small crown over "2".  The ring necked cocked appears to be all original, as is the pan, Frizzen, and Strike plate. The action to 1/2 and full cock is strong and sound.   To the LHS is a brass back plate, with an original mounted sprung belt clip, ordnance marked.   The original one piece walnut stock, is now to a pleasing colour, and patination of age, with minor dings and bruises of age and use.  Any ordnance marks to the stock, if present originaly, have now faded, or erased.  The trigger guard, tangs, and butt cap on in brass.      The wooden ramrod is brass tipped, and retained by a recess underneath the stock, and a brass pipe.  The o/a length is 19".                                               C 1790