April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Henry Tatham Jr. was the eldest son of Henry Tatham. He was born in 1804 in Charing Cross. Both he and his brother Charles in 1837 appear at 37, Charing Cross, Henry as Sword-Cutler, and also Truss-maker; and Charles as Gun-maker. Henry Tatham, alone, was still at this address in 1859. He died in 1860. These fine pistols feature Damascus steel barrels with patent hooked breeches, each with two German silver inlaid bands. The top flats are marked "H. TATHAM , LONDON". Small notched rear sights on engraved tangs and silver front beads towards muzzles. Fine scroll-engraved back action locks with sliding half-cock safeties, both marked "H. TATHAM". Engraved blued steel trigger guards terminating in pineapple finials. Both have swiveling steel ramrods and blued steel belt hooks mounted on left sides, opposite locks. Pistols are stocked in walnut with shaped panels of fine checkering around grips and small German silver wrist escutcheons. Complete with their original partitioned oak case lined in green wool. The lid features its original Henry Tatham label on the interior. The interior has two lidded compartments and the period, probably original, accessories include a bronze flask, a nipple removal wrench, a single cavity ball mold, an ebony ramrod, a ball starter, a small bone nipple box, a screwdriver, and a mainspring clamp. Complete with an 1849 Great Britain Game Certificate, which was found in one of the lidded compartments and was issued to Captain John Shiffuer, the presumed owner of the pistols. CONDITION: Pistols are very good overall. Barrels have a mostly grey patina with visible Damascus and excellent marking, tangs have generous amounts of faded case colors. The locks are crisp and function well, case colors mostly faded to grey and markings and engraving are sharp. Trigger guards and belt hooks retain perhaps 70-80% bright blue finish with some flaking and areas turned to grey. Stocks very good, as refinished, with some light marks from use. Heads of barrel wedges show some chipping. Case good with large age crack on lid, minor warping, and some minor chipping to corners, furniture retains a dark patina. Interior has original lining and shows scattered areas of staining, wear, and fading. Label with some staining and punctures from pistol locks. Accessories good with dark patina and some dark spots. A very nice original and as found set of cased pistols.
Accessories
Wooden Case & Accessories
Caliber/Bore
.60 Smoothbore
Model
Percussion Target Pistols
Paperwork
1849 Dated Game Certificate