May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
Made between 1842 and 1857, when Benjamin Cogswell was the proprietor at 224 Strand, not yet having formed Cogswell and Harrison, and advertised himself as the successor to Edward Benton. Matching pair of belt pistols with diminutive front sights, integral rear sights, case colored barrels, brass frames and ramrod channels, captive ramrods, steel trigger guard, walnut stocks with vacant German nickel silver thumbpieces, and fire blued belt hooks. Checkering runs flush with frames to near bottom of grips where they terminate in a gently curving wave. Buttcaps with traps. Matching "492" where tang ends. Swivel captured ramrods. Frames and dolphin form hammers lightly engraved with florals. Trigger guard engraved with single floral. British view and proof marks for blackpowder visible on bottom left flat, view mark on frame and black powder proof on barrel. Patent breeches. Accompanied by case with vacant brass plaque in top and accessories comprising a bullet mold with sprue cutter, correctly marked "32" for .54 bore, wooden handled nipple wrench, Eley marked cap tin, bag flask marked "Dixon and Sons" on spout, nipple wrench, and unmarked bag flask with repousse florals on both sides. CONDITION: Very good. Barrels retain much of their case coloring but with consistent old oxidation throughout. Trigger guards with largely faded case colors, good evidence still visible. Brass is excellent. Stocks are very good with some minor abrasion. Buttcaps with much of their case coloring. Stocks are each missing one extremely minor chip on right side where they meet frame. Actions work appropriately when operated by hand, bores are excellent, bright and shiny. Belt hooks with some dulling and loss of bluing at high points. Case is very good with a few areas of rubbing to baize, resulting in some thinning. Bag flasks are good with some minor denting. Cap tin essentially tin with some finish on cylinder body. Nipple wrench very good with some minor bruises. Paper label in lid very good with some staining. A nice pair of belt pistols from before Cogswell and Harrison partnered. EW
Accessories
Case with Accessories
Caliber/Bore
(Both) .54 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
(Both) Benjamin Cogswell