Beschreibung:

A Rare Cased Pair Of 32-Bore Percussion Target Or Duelling Pistols By James Purdey, No. 314½ Oxford Street, London, Nos. 913 And 914 For 1825With browned twist octagonal sighted scratch-rifled barrels (minor old surface patination) each signed in full along the top flat, blued front and back sights, case-hardened patent breeches each with platinum line and pierced platinum plug, border engraved case-hardened tangs each engraved with symmetrical foliage, signed flat detented locks and dolphin hammers en suite, engraved safety-catches, figured half-stocks each with dark horn fore-end cap and chequered rounded butt, border engraved steel mounts comprising serial numbered butt-caps each with retaining screw centred on a feathered design, trigger-guards each retaining some original blueing and with a martial trophy on the bow, case-hardened trigger-plates each with pineapple finial, vacant silver escutcheons and barrel-bolt escutcheons, original horn-tipped ramrods, and much original finish: in original lined and fitted mahogany case with some accessories including brass-mounted three-way powder-flask retaining nearly all its lacquered finish, the interior of the lid with maker's trade label, the exterior with circular vacant brass escutcheon centred on a flush-fitting brass carrying handle, London proof marks and Purdey's barrelsmith's mark 23.5 cm. barrels FootnotesProvenance Sold to Mr. W. Prince on 24 May 1842 for £10.10s For a related cased pair of pistols by the same maker (nos. 905 and 906 for 1825/26) see Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco, Antique Arms, Armor and Modern Sporting Guns, 28 June, 2010, lot 445