RARE BRITISH VICTORIAN ERA PERCUSSION WHALING HARPOON GUN BY BARNETT LONDON
WHAT AI SAYS
A British Victorian era whaling gun by Barnett, London (often misspelled as Barnet) is a highly rare and collectible piece of 19th-century maritime militaria. Produced by the prominent British gunmaking dynasty John Edward Barnett & Sons, these specialized firearms were manufactured to fire heavy, barbed harpoons into whales from small whaleboats to secure them to the vessel.
Overview of the Maker
The Barnett gunmaking lineage was highly active in London throughout the Victorian era.
- Timeline: Established by Thomas Barnet in 1796, the firm evolved into John Edward Barnett & Sons by 1842, operating continuously under that name until 1901.
- Reputation: While famously recognized as a major commercial supplier of military arms—such as the P-1853 Enfield and various cavalry carbines—the firm also produced heavy-bore industrial and maritime firearms.
Design and Technical Specifications
Victorian-era shoulder-fired or swivel-mounted whaling guns produced by Barnett generally fit specific historical parameters:
- Dimensions: A typical surviving example measures roughly 80-100 cm in total length with a heavy iron barrel approximately 44 cm long.
- Mechanism: Earlier configurations relied on flintlocks, but true Victorian-era models utilize a robust percussion cap ignition system designed to withstand wet, corrosive ocean spray.
- Function: Rather than executing an immediate kill, these muzzle-loading firearms propelled a barbed steel iron tethered to a high-tensile rope. The whale would haul the whaleboat until exhausted, allowing the crew to safely approach.
-
Collectibility and Market Value
Authentic Barnett whaling guns are considered extremely scarce compared to the more commonly found 19th-century whaling guns made by competitors like W.W. GREENER They occasionally surface through niche maritime antiquarians or premium antique arms auctions across the Commonwealth. If you are looking to buy or sell one, its value is heavily dictated by the presence of its original "loaded" iron harpoon, the clarity of the Barnett, London barrel stamp, and the functional condition of the percussion lock.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This is a very rare text book example of a Greener of London harpoon whaling gun. Woodwork is in very good to excellent condition. Markers marked to the mechanism plate along with the Victorian Crown stamp. Many markings throughout the gun including the makers stamp and London Armouries stamp. Comes with a harpoon but the rope is not original. Adjustable sights to the top of the barrel. This gun came from a recently purchased whaling collectionand has a historical value.