Another beaded smoothbore

[rich pierce]

This is an oddball and the auction house indicates the beads may be a later addition.

[Avlrc]

The decoration is a distraction.  But who is T Wadsworth & when was it made?

[rich pierce]

The decoration is a distraction.  But who is T Wadsworth & when was it made?

I agree, the beads add nothing and distract from the architecture. I’d guess 1760s New England. Imports were seldom signed on the barrel. The maker is unknown to me.

[Avlrc]

Other than the beads, it is in great shape. Some people probably like that decor. If I owned it, I might remove the 1709 date.

[rich pierce]

Yeah I’d prefer it had never been beaded. When it says “added later” I wonder how much later. 1800s maybe. Maybe more recent. It’s unusual for no beads to be missing on old beaded guns.

[Avlrc]

I noticed that one horn @ same auction has similar beads in the plug.  Folks up that way must have liked those.

[TF Black]

I looked long and hard at that gun, mostly because I love club butts and that one is in great condition. But I couldn’t get over the beads. :-)