GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
FINE QUALITY PAIR OF STEEL MOUNTED FRENCH DOUBLE BARREL FLINTLOCK PISTOLS. PR FRENCH FLINTLOCK PISTOLS NSN .572 Cal. .572 Smooth bore. 6-1/2" Tapered round bbls have slab sided breech sections with tops engraved with floral and spiderweb motifs, which are damascened in gold. Bottoms of bbls are marked "tordu" (twisted) with indecipherable name and A over C proof (Paris ?). Breech irons are nicely filed with deep sighting groove. Round bodied locks with nicely filed in teats have inset pans with bridled friction frizzens. Outer edges of pans and frizzens have nicely filed decorations. Frizzen springs have well filed finials. Locks have line borders and foliate engraving. Bright polished high relief filed and decorated steel furniture consists of trigger guards with urn finial, bulbous grip caps with long spurs up through grip, and faceted ramrod pipes with fancy foliate finials. European walnut stocks extend to muzzles and have nicely carved fields and beads around metal parts. Three panel square checkering is on grips. Stocks mount to bbls with single captive side nails without escutcheons. Walnut ramrod has horn tip. One pistol is missing its ramrod. PROVENANCE: The Spiropoulos Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls are a gray to brown patina, and retain considerable amount of their orig old damascening. One gun is somewhat stronger than the other. All of the metal parts are cleaned to bright polish. Most detail still clear. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig finish, perhaps with some oil rubbed in years ago as maintenance. Locks and frizzens are crisp. A striking pair of pistols. 49891-1 MGM30 (7,000-10,000)