November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/3/2017
Circa 1750. Smoothbore two-stage steel barrel with swamped muzzle, front section multi-faceted and rear section octagonal, separated by relief rings and chiseled circular designs. Marked at breech with gold maker's cartouche and a gold animal cartouche, and decorated with several silver crosses inlaid on top three flats, breech with chiseled border, tang also engraved. Steel miquelet lock featuring gold maker's mark "VO/ALL" in center. Cock, spring, and pan faces feature chiseled scrolls. Engraved silver furniture, both sides of buttcap and the sideplate feature engraved military arms motifs. Grotesque mask on buttcap. Plain walnut full stock carved with relief scrolls and acanthus leaves around barrel tang and ramrod entry ferrule. Carved around lock and sideplate. Very good condition. Barrel still retains some original blue, the rest of surface a pleasant grey patina with some scattered dark spots. Lock plate, is a nice grey patina. Silver has been polished and has some scattered marks and areas of minor losses or damage, including on the buttcap mask. Stock very good with some scattered marks and minor cracks repaired. Overall length is 15-7/8". This is a unique Spanish pistol with fine silver mounts as they always have brass mounts. A wealthy officer ordered his pistol to mounted in silver instead of brass. This item is from the collection of, described by, and authenticated by Herbert G. Ratner, Jr.
Caliber/Bore
.59 smoothbore