December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/16/2021
Spies is recorded as working in New York, circa 1832-1860. Pistols are a matched pair and have brass barrels marked "LONDON" on top, with offset private Tower proofs and star beading at rear of breech. Flat iron locks with unbridled pans and decorated with a floral at rear, line borders, and rays emanating from pan, with "A.W. SPIES" in center. Locks retained by 2 screws that feed through brass escutcheons. Trumpet headed ramrods, probably the originals (one frozen, other with worm), feed through a single ferrule and into a reinforced mouth. Brass trigger guard and buttcaps, trigger guards with simple starburst engraving. Vacant German silver octagonal (more rectangular in shape) plaques at wrist. CONDITION: Very good. Brass has a deep mustard patina, with some verdigris forming on both pistols that could easily be cleaned should the new owner desire. Markings are easily legible. Locks have a nicely presenting chocolate patina. Stocks are very good with some normal marks from handling and storage acquired over time; pistol "B" has a few small chips near lock and a crack that extends from front on lock and up to barrel, measuring approximately 2 - 1/2". Mechanically fine, bores are very good, smooth. A nice pair of pistols. EMW
Caliber/Bore
(Both) .54 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
(Both) A.W. Spies