April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/12/2023
Richard Wilson is recorded as born 1703, apprenticed to his uncle Thomas Green in 1718, free of the Company in 1725, and made a master in 1741. Among his fine pistols, he also did contract work for East India Company, Ordnance, Hudson Bay Company, and the Royal African Company. Classic Queen Anne style turn off barrels in 3 tapering stages, separated by wedding bands, engraved with wrigglework on rear edge of barrels, with bores flaring to cannon muzzles. Breeches have "Wilson" signature, sprays of florals, Wilson's "* / RW" maker's mark, and view and proof marks. Top of chambers engraved "LONDON". Swan neck cock with light floral scrolls and double-lined borders. Elaborate sideplates with a stand of arms depicting flags, cannon balls, a fort, and a hauberk. Wrists inlaid with silver escutcheons atop a capital with floral accents. Buttcaps depict early style grotesque masks wreathed in floral scroll and topped by shell finials. Stocks of a dark, dense, almost burl figured walnut with relief carved shell motifs around barrel tangs. CONDITION: Overall very good, with iron components bright metal with some superficial handling marks throughout. A few very minor spots of freckling and patination. Silver mounts are excellent with some minor handling marks, mostly to wrist pieces. Stocks are very good with some handling marks and minor dings, with a pair of hairline age cracks on right side of wrist of pistol (A), and a well executed repair through the wrist of pistol (B), which also has a minor crack on left side. Mechanically fine, bores are excellent. Queen Anne pistols are quite desirable and these are of a rarely encountered high grade.
Caliber/Bore
(Both) .60 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Richard Wilson