GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
EXTREMELY FINE CASED PAIR DOUBLE BARREL HOWDAH-STYLE ENGLISH PERCUSSION PISTOLS. WALTER ADAMS DOUBLE BARREL PISTOLS NSN/NSN 65 Cal. 65. 7-3/4″ double Damascus bbls are each engraved "LONDON" on broad, concave, raised rib. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with English black powder proofs. A brass tipped ebony ramrod is fitted to each gun. Case hardened patent breeches have engraved floral blowouts and rectangular shanked nipples. Breech and tangs are nicely scroll engraved. Locks are engraved with matching scrolls with maker's name "Walter Adams" engraved in block letters. Flat-faced, serpentine hammers are case colored with matching scroll terminating in stylized dolphin heads. Trigger plates are fitted with blued double triggers. Blued, scroll engraved trigger guard have stylized pineapple finial. Dense, slightly streaked European walnut stocks are checkered around grips, which has large steel caps with florally engraved percussion cap traps. Rectangular silver escutcheon is inset at top of each grip. Engraved steel thimble and stock attaches to bbls with side nail through oval silver escutcheons. 20" x 9-1/2" mahogany case has two sliding brass locks on either side of central brass inset for lock. Case is trimmed with brass corners and central brass plaque in lid. Interior is lined in red baize. Compartmentalized, covered and uncovered, for an array of orig accessories, including "W. D." (William Davis) marked 16 bore nutcracker type ball mold, ovate copper and brass powder measure/ball magazine/cap flask marked "Dixon & Sons", ebony and brass cleaning/loading rod, ebony handled nipple wrench, ebony handled screwdriver. Casing also contains large full tin of caps with nice blue English label. Orig oil bottle still with a wax seal with pontil. Covered compartment has turned bone knob containing two spare nipples and brass jag. PROVENANCE: Ex-Larry Sheerin Collection. CONDITION: Guns are extremely fine overall, retaining virtually all of their orig striped brown finish to bbls and central rib. Locks, hammers, breeches and butt caps retain most of their orig bright and muted case colors with very light staining and pitting on triggers on one gun and tail of right lock on same gun. Trigger guards retain over half of their orig fire blue with balance silver/grey. Nicely figured stocks retain 95% bright orig varnish with several scuffs and cosmetic dents and scratches, one gun has tiny chip on forestock just below breech. Mechanically excellent with crisp, shiny bright smooth bores. Case is sound and solid with large hairline in lid. Internally, baize lining shows light fading, soiling and staining with some worn edges where tools and pistols have rubbed. Accessories are all in matching fine to excellent condition. Cap tin and oil bottle are both full. Flask is functional, containing much of its orig bright blue on spring, retaining much of its orig varnish though thinning. 52410-1 JS (7,000-9,000) W/CASE & ACCESS