1035

Magnificent Pair of 18th Century Gold Inlaid, Silver-Mounted, Liege Proofed Flintlock Pistols -A) 18

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Magnificent Pair of 18th Century Gold Inlaid, Silver-Mounted, Liege Proofed Flintlock Pistols -A) 18
A) This matched pair of late18th Century European officer's pistols have part octagon/part round smoothbore barrels with fluted sighting plane and fluted edges of the octagon portions of the barrels. The barrels are blued and the breech plugs are color casehardened. The barrels are decorated with gold inlays that include sunrays surrounding the front sight blades, military stands of arms and colors on each side of the sight flats and delicate floral designs that extend the length of each barrel. The locks have goose-neck cocks, integral, fenced, iron pans and bar safeties. The lock plates, cocks, and frizzens are covered with relief engraving. The relief engraving extends to the breech plugs. The full length, wedge-fastened, European walnut stocks are decorated with inlaid silver wire scroll work on the grips. The ramrod pipes, trigger guard, side plate and strapped pommels are cast silver with stands of arms and military trophies in high relief. Each pistol has an ebony ramrod with flared brass tip and iron bottom. The pistols are not maker marked, but are stamped with the number "609" on the undersides of the barrels and inside of the trigger guards. The undersides of the barrels are stamped with a small "Crown/R" proof marks and the breech plugs are stamped with a "Crown/X" proof. The left side of both barrels are Liege proofed.
BBL: 13 5/8 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 69 bore
Finish: blue/gold inlaid
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Very fine. The barrel retains nearly 90% of the original blue finish with scattered age discoloration. The gold inlaid decorations on the barrels are nearly all intact. The breech plugs and pans have no flash pitting and the breech plugs retain nearly all of the original case colors. The locks have a silver-gray patina with traces of the original case colors. The locks have no flash pitting and the engraving is crisp and deep. The pistol stocks are also in very fine condition, sharp edges and light handling and storage marks. The cast silver ramrod pipes, side plates, trigger guards and pommels are all in excellent condition with sharp edges on the relief castings. This is a magnificent pair of very high quality 18th Century pistols in outstanding condition and show the best European craftsmanship. Most likely they were made for the eastern trade to appeal to the wealthy individuals of that era.

B) Engraved Silver Mounted, Gold Inlaid Flintlock Pistol
Described in A.
BBL:
Stock:
Gauge: 69
Finish:
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Very fine. The barrel retains nearly 90% of the original blue finish with scattered age discoloration. The gold inlaid decorations on the barrel are nearly all intact. The breech plugs and pans have no flash pitting and the breech plugs retain nearly all of the original case colors. The locks have a silver-gray patina with traces of the original case colors. The locks have no flash pitting and the engraving is crisp and deep. The pistol stock is in very good condition with no cracks or repairs, sharp edges and light handling and storage marks. A small portion of the silver wire inlay on the left side of the grip is loose. The cast silver ramrod pipes, side plates, trigger guards and pommels are in fine condition with sharp edges on the relief castings. This is a magnificent pair of very high quality 18th Century pistols are in outstanding condition and show the best European craftsmanship.