An unusual early percussion gun

Built by Samuel Nock, gunmaker-in-ordinary to four British monarchs, this elegant piece features some intriguing designs

- CHRISTIAN WELLARD

GUNMAKING is often a family enterprise and at no time was this more evident than in the early 19th century, when a swathe of renowned dynasties were being entrenched. To this day, names such as Manton and Le Page evoke images of exquisitely made, and at times technologically innovative, guns of prestige. The collection of the Royal Armouries houses one such gun, from the family of one of gunmaking's finest.

Samuel Nock was the nephew of the legendary London gunmaker Henry Nock, and learnt his trade as an apprentice under his uncle starting in 1791. It comes as no surprise, then, that Samuel himself became a gunmaker of significant renown in the first half of the 19th century. As early as 1805, the younger Nock had been appointed gunmaker-inordinary to King George III, and he would continue to serve in this role for three more British monarchs in his lifetime an astounding achievement.