An English Stonebow in early style by William Barker of Wigan dating to circa 1760

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Price: £1,900

Ref: 62080704

Item Description

A Stonebow by William Barker of Wigan. William Barker is recorded as a maker of guns, crossbows and stonebows in Wigan, Lancashire, circa 1754-86. He had a fine reputation and a workshop, and shop, in Wigan Lane on the outskirts of the town. 

Stonebows, sometimes called bullet crossbows, were used primarily for shooting small game, vermin and for leisure. Towards the end of the 18th century stonebows were fashionable accessories produced to very high standards as extensions to the product ranges of leading London and regional gunmakers. As the name suggests, ammunition could consist of pebbles, but being manufactured by gunmakers, the most effective ammunition was small lead pistol balls. This example by Barker is of early style in that the stock is still of straight earlier crossbow style. This was replaced by the more usual gunstock profile later in the 18th century. 

The bow is secured in the fore end by a pair of flanking irons which terminate in a moulded pyramidal finial at the snout which is fitted with a sprung fore-sight on top strung with a green sighting bead. The stock is of walnut. The cocking lever is retained by a sliding iron square at the butt. The slender steel bow is fitted with a contemporary style string with a bullet pouch.

The button trigger mechanism has a folding back-sight on top pierced with four vertically aligned ranging holes engraved with foliage and the maker’s name “W BARKER” with “WIGAN” below. The forward section of the stock is inlaid with a shaped iron panel engraved with a stand of arms and scrolls. The walnut stock is nicely patinated and the iron parts are an aged brown overall with light pitting in parts. The bow span is 28 inches (72.5 cm) and the length is 32.5 inches (82.5 cm).