June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Octagonal smoothbore barrels of browned Damascus. Tangs and patent breeches engraved with fine scolls and featuring two inlaid platinum bands. Top flats of barrels inscribed "New Orleans". Small rear sights mounted on tangs and silver beads near muzzles. Scroll engraved back action percussion locks marked "V. LIBEAU" at rear of each lockplate, bolster faces engraved with stars. Blued steel trigger guards with spurs and engraved with scrolls on bows. Steel ramrod ferrules, the front ferrules mounted on rib beneath barrels. Plain German silver barrel key escutcheons, vacant oval wrist escutcheons, nose caps, two-piece sideplates, and engraved buttcaps with steel nipple reservoirs. Blued adjustable triggers. Partially figured varnished walnut half stocks with checkered panels on each side of grips. German silver-tipped ebony ramrods. Excellent condition; barrels retain 95% reapplied brown finish with some light edge wear and muzzle wear. Locks retain an even light brown patina, crisp actions, excellent markings and engraving. Stocks excellent as refinished with some scattered light marks and some minor mars to checkering. Trigger guards retain a mostly plum patina with traces of blue finish. Mounts unpolished. One ramrod and tip replaced. For a similar example, see page 164, figure 171 of "The Deringer in America: Volume I" by R.L. Wilson and L.D. Eberhart. V.G.W. Libeau listed himself in four New Orleans directories as a "Gunsmith from 1834 until 1842. His business and residence were listed as 7 Camp Street.