Flintlock – real or replica??

Picked up this blunderbuss flintlock in a “gentlemans curios” lot at auction recently and pre-auction thought it was a replica. Took it home and had closer look. Started to realise the woodwork was a little rough for a replica so undid a few screws and had a look. The trigger wasn't working and that turned out to be a broken bit missing from the hammer(?) that should have pressed against a spring and flicked the flint quickly against the (?) steel bit causing a spark. Then I noticed the trigger plate(?) that released the hammer was gold dore plated which is a plating technique that faded away around the mid 1850s I think. One of the screws was shiny new so someone has been inside before me. I am beginning to think this is the real deal and may have been extensively gold plated at one time. Went looking for a makers mark and found a “V” with two circles in it at the top of the tip of the barrel. Tried googling the mark but can't determine the maker yet.


What do you think? Any ideas on dating/manufacturer?


Cheers

Stephen

 

I can't see two halves, but my eyes are not good. The VOC near the muzzle may be for the Dutch East India Company.

 

That two piece casting seems like a repro to me. Also, the bumpy texture is one that you see in many repro coins. No metal item is going to have that kind of uniform texture. Spring may be able to tell you more.

 

also view this as repro. The slots on the screws are offset to appear old hand cut..but I think repro from the 60's 70's

 

the wood looks artificially aged....i vote repro.

 

Look at the mechanism on a real flintlock and compare:

 

Bev........ your photo is not a flintlock,it is a percussion cap.

 

I was showing it for the finish. Sorry, wrong gun. Try this one.

 

Fantasy piece 4 sure.

 

That crud is too uniform. It looks like someone buried it for a while after making it, or something to that effect. I don't know a lot about guns, but do know a thing or two about metal. My guess is that it was made as a display piece in the 60s. Even the old screws don't look all that old.