April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Lot consists of: Rare Cased nine shot “IMPERIAL PROTECTOR” ring/pistol. No serial number. Caliber 4mm. Finely made and finished, nine shot finger ring of unique design, with pivoting hammer on one side, main spring wrapping around German silver finger loop, and with trigger that extends into firing position when cocked. Nine shot revolving cylinder has spring detent bolt, and is manually rotated with knurled bead at top of cylinder. Cylinder is loaded by removal from the ring, and retained by a screw. Steel parts are niter blued. spring steel parts are temper blued, and body of ring is of polished German silver, and is engraved “Imperial Protector” with acanthus engraved embellishments on either side, and around off-side of ring. Ring is contained in its leather covered case with gold line border on lid. Interior is lined with burgundy velvet, with French fitted compartments for ring, screwdrivers, and nine pinfire cartridges, three of which are present. CONDITION: Excellent, near new. Steel parts retain nearly all their original bright blue with slight losses. Cylinder has some very minor marks from being rotated. German silver ring retains nearly all its orig polish. Case leather is slightly chipped, with a few marks. Interior is excellent. Cartridges are glued into place and not removable. A beautifully made and intriguing little “gem". (B)"LA FEMME FATALE" revolver ladies ring gun. Produced in France in small quantities during the third quarter of the 19th century, it was used primarily by prostitutes and spies for self protection. Typically, the gun would be worn on the index finger and the thumb used to fire the hammer. It is comprised of silver and iron and displays a leaf design accompanied with a blued inner band. Across its body reads "LA FEMME FATALE". Top mounted with seven shot cylinder chambered in 2mm pinfire. Preserved in its original blue velvet case marked "JOHN PINCHES LONDON", this piece is in excellent condition. John Pinches was a notable silver dealer at the time who resided in central London. Minor wear can be seen on its interior wall as expected with age and use. Also included are an extra cylinder, two screwdrivers for reloading, and 13 fired and two unfired cartridges.
Accessories
Two small cases with accessories
Barrel Length
(A) 1/2" (B) 1/4"
Caliber/Bore
(A) 4mm Pinfire (B) 2mm Pinfire
Manufacturer
(A) Imperial Protector (B) La Femme Fatale