October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
The smoothbore octagonal barrels signed "W. Powell". Boxlock frames well engraved with borders and scrolls. Silver front foresights and steel rear sights. Action cover is well engraved with scrolls. Dolphin form hammer engraved en suite with frame. Finely checkered thumb spurs. Stirrup rammers, trigger guards engraved en suite with frames. Finely checkered and figured walnut full stocks. Buttcaps with German silver band and blued steel butt traps, finely engraved. CONDITION: Both pistols in similar condition, barrels with strong traces of original color case hardening. Frames with darkened case hardening, hammers with traces of bright case hardening. Trigger guards with remnants of original bluing. Walnut stocks with little wear and considerable original varnish. German silver thumb pieces with initials "TP" for Thomas Perkins. Pistols are cased brass bound mahogany case with lid escutcheon engraved with Perkins's name and his name as headborough of Birmingham. Interior of case lined in blue felt. Appears to be the original. Accessories comprising bullet mold, ramrod, and nipple wrench. Flask absent. Case in excellent condition. Pistols have an interesting historical association with the Birmingham Riots, during which Headborough Perkins and many others were "succesively attacked, and more or less injured and pillaged", according the the Chronicles of Crime by Camden Pelham. Presumably, Mr. Perkins had left his pistols at home that day. MZ
Caliber/Bore
(BOTH) .46 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
(BOTH) W. Powell