GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
VERY FINE PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS BY JOHN PARKES, CIRCA 1775, WITH EXCEPTIONAL AND MOST UNUSUAL SILVER MOUNTS BY CHARLES FREETH.JOHN PARKES PISTOLS-PAIRF/LNSN58The elegant pistols with three stage barrels, octagonal, then polygonal at the breech, engraved with foliage at the rear and gunmaker's proofs, gold lined touch-holes, engraved tangs and tang screws. The border engraved rounded locks are bolted, with engraved push-on safeties, and the maker's name 'Parkes' in a rococo cartouche with a water drain behind the pans. The finely molded, figured walnut full stocks are inlaid in silver wire with scrolls and a trophy of arms around the barrel tangs. The hallmarked silver mounts are both elaborate and unusual in design, comprising pierced side plates and escutcheons, each cast and chased with a trophy of arms and bust of Minerva, the trigger guards with shaped finials as a bust of Minerva, and engraved spurred silver pommels with grotesque masks, and horn tipped ramrods. Birmingham silver marks of Charles Freeth for 1774 and 1775. PROVENANCE: Christie's London: June 16th, 1993. CONDITION: The barrels are clean steel with minor wear to the engraving at the breeches, the tang engraving crisp showing little wear. The locks, hammers, frizziness, and top jaws are clean and crisp throughout. The cock of one pistol an expert replacement. The stocks are clean with expected minor dents and a chip to the right side fore-end tip of one pistol. Actions are excellent. The silver mounts are of exceptional quality throughout and show little wear and all the delicate silver wire is present.. Altogether a best quality pair of 1775 period silver mounted English holster pistols by a well known maker, distinguished by the beautiful mounts, gold lined touch-holes, engraved side plate screws, and elegant silver wire work. 51000-1 MRZ217 (8,000-12,000)