Help identifying a crest/emblem

[Richard Potter]

I wonder if anyone can help me identify a family emblem that appears on my late father’s shotgun stock. I believe it belongs to a previous owner and is not related to the family. I’m not even sure exactly what it shows, perhaps a dragon or horse head holding an axe in its mouth. Any help greatly appreciated. Richard

[Mart 'n' Al]

It is totally unlike any heraldic beast I have seen. The head looks like a boar, holding a seax, but the neck is very unusual, possibly aquatic.  I will be watching this thread!

Any relevant family connections will help.

Martin

[KGarrad]

It's not a seax
A seax is a curved sword with a notch - see the arms of Essex & Middlesex.

For me, it's a dragon's head, holding a battle-axe in it's mouth.

Not that this helps in identification!

[Mart 'n' Al]

Of course. And I'm in Middx.

Martin

[Richard Potter]

Thanks @Mart 'n' Al and @KGarrad for your comments.

Unfortunately I do not have any family reference to go on here, the initials on the second roundel are my late fathers and not related - the crest (if thats the right term) I believe belonged to a previous or the original owner.

R
 

[starcat]

I think its a sea horse with an axe & according to Heraldry symbolism, the sea horse represents, the power of water  & the axe, Execution of military duty.

[Karen McDonald]

I don't think seahorses are that common in coats of arms, which makes this even more interesting:

https://coadb.com/surnames/potter-arms.html

Quote:
Blazons & Genealogy Notes
1) (co. Chester). Ar. a chev. gu. betw. three erm. spots.
2) (cos. Devon, Kent, Oxford, Leicester, and Somerset). Sa. a fess erm. betw. three cinquefoils ar. (another, or). Crest—A seahorse or (another, ppr.).
3) (Сhristopher Potter, D.D., Proyost of Queen’s College, Oxford, and Dean of Worcester, d. 3 March, 1645). Ar. on a pale az. three pairs of wings conjoined and elevated of the first.
4) (Buile Hill, near Manchester; Sir John Potter, Knt., J.P. for that city and co. Lancaster, son of Sir Thomas Potter, the first Mayor of Manchester, received knighthood on the Queen’s visit to that city in 1851). Sa. on a fess erm. betw. in chief two cinquefoils pierced or, and in base a knight’s helmet ppr. a terrestrial globe also ppr. betw. two garbs of the third. Crest—On a mount vert a seahorse erect ppr. gorged with a collar gemel sa. and supporting a rudder or.
5) Ar. on a pale az. three wings conjoined of the first. Crest—A star of twelve rays or, betw. a pair of wings ar.
6) Ar. on a chief az. two fleshpots or.
7) (William Potter, Esq., of Liverpool). Az. a fess vairé or and gu. cotised engr. betw. three cinquefoils of the second. Crest—A seahorse or, in front of a cross crosslet fitchée gu.

Karen

[Istrice]

The proof mark on the barrel of the gun might be a starting point to finding the original owner.

The following may be of assistance (https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/articles/514-2/)

Happy hunting

Istrice

[Flattybasher9]

It's a Dragon "couped" and a cut shaft "Pole-axe".

Malky