GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ORIGINAL CONDITION SAW HANDLED DUELING OR TARGET PISTOLS BY JOHN FORBES OF LIVERPOOL WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES.JOHN FORBESDUELLING PISTOLSNSN57Cal. 57. (.565 smooth bore) These high condition pistols have 9" twist octagonal bbls with gold bands at breech ends engraved "Maker to HRH Prince of Wales" on top flats, and have plain unlined touch holes. Breech irons with integral U-notch rear sights are engraved with baskets of fruit. Locks with engraved beveled edges and rebated flame engraved tails, have semi-waterproof pans, bridled roller frizzens with roller on feather springs, and back sliding safeties which engage French cocks at half cock. Plates are engraved "FORBES" "LIVERPOOL" at centers under pans. Nicely laid out root European walnut saw handled stocks with flared checkered grips having inlet flat starburst caps, are iron mounted. Trigger guards with integral stylized pineapple finials have armorial engraving on bows. Bbls have under ribs fitted with single plain pipes holding walnut ramrods with horn tips, one rod with worm. Rods mount through filed steel thimbles. Half stocks are tipped with horn and mount to bbls with captive side nails through oval silver escutcheons. What appears to be orig mahogany case has key lock closure, and is lined in what appears to be orig green baize. Accessories include copper bodied powder/ ball flask, nutcracker type ball mold marked "26", spare cleaning/ ramrod with large steel head and steel tail accepting cleaning loop, rosewood cleaning/ loading rod, and a rather new turnscrew. One small covered compartment holds a number of lead balls. The other compartment holds a small pewter oil bottle. Covers are mahogany with bone knobs. CONDITION: Excellent, original. Wood and metal retain nearly all their orig finishes with a number of light marks, knocks and scratches. Bores are excellent. Locks and frizzens are crisp. John Forbes worked in Liverpool between 1806 and 1810 at 50 Lord Street. 50657-2 MGM258 (8,000-12,000)