GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
TRULY SUPERB, HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION, PAIR OF SAW-HANDLED PERCUSSION DUELING/ TARGET PISTOLS BY RICHARD CONSTABLE OF PHILADELPHIA, WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND LABEL. CONSTABLE DUELER NSN 45 Cal. .45 Smooth bore. 16-1/2" Overall. 10" Skelp twist octagon bbls are engraved "constable philadelphia" (working 1817 - 51) in old English script on top flats which are mounted with silver bead front sights. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Birmingham black powder proofs, and are fitted with under ribs with plain pipes holding ebony ramrods with German silver tips and tails (steel worms are under caps). Patent breeches are nicely filed, have platinum blow-outs and three gold bands surrounding some well cut scroll engraving. Case hardened breech irons engraved with open scroll have integral rear sights. Case hardened back action locks mounted with broad rounded body serpentine hammers have back sliding safeties which engage at half cock. Locks and hammers are engraved with exceptionally well done open flowing acanthus scroll. Feather engraved German silver flash guards extend forward from locks under breech plugs. Trigger plates are charcoal blued, and have stylized pineapple finials. Temper blued triggers are set (with no adjustment screws). Scroll engraved and blued trigger guards have finger spurs. American walnut half stocks are cut from the part of tree where trunk flares into root. They have German silver tips, are saw-handled and terminate in flared grips. Ends are surrounded by feather engraved German silver bands, and have German silver ovals on flat bottoms. Grips are fully checkered with flat top diamonds and mullered borders. There are silver rectangular crest plates on side panels. Bbls attach to stocks with temper blued steel captive side bolts through rectangular silver escutcheons. These very high quality pistols are housed in their original dovetailed American walnut case having pivoting hook closure in English fashion, with inset brass rectangular crest plate on top. Interior is lined in blue velvet with rare small paper R. Constable label in lid. Partitions fit guns very well. Accessories in case include a steel nutcracker ball mold marked "60", copper bodied 3-compartment powder flask/ ball and patch flask marked "Dickson & Son", hickory, brass, and horn loading rod, and another walnut handled steel loading rod (steel head acts as a powder measure). There are two covered compartments with walnut tops and ring handles, one holding the orig key. CONDITION: Excellent, as found, with no evident restoration or repairs. Bbls retain over 90% of their orig brown pattern, with evidence of very light cleaning on left sides, with a few light flecks overall. Locks and breech irons retain over 90% of their orig case hardening color, which has faded a bit, and shows some very light frosting. Charcoal blue of trigger plates and trigger guards is superb, rating well over 90%. Thimbles show some flaking and wear to their blue from contact with case. Stocks retain nearly all of their French polish finish with some light marks and a few deeper dings, as well as some scratches and marks associated with storage in case. German silver shows some toning. Band on grip of one gun has lifted a bit toward front. Locks are crisp. Safeties and triggers work. Bores are excellent. Case exterior is excellent with some marks and scratches, and a few stains. Interior cloth has faded somewhat, and has a number of rubs and marks. Label is fine, a bit foxed, with considerable black soiling at center from contact with flask. Flask is good with loss to varnish on body and with numerous scratches and marks. Other accessories are fine. A lovely pair of American high quality pistols in remarkable untouched condition. 52863-11 mgm24 (12,000-15,000) CASED PAIR W/3 ACCESS, KEY