I was kindly lent these before the holiday by a customer who showed them to me. Normally, when I see something unusual of our make I will either borrow or buy it so I can take a few photographs, in this instance borrow was the only option! I don't think these are anything truly remarkable but they do have beautifully carved forepart which I enjoyed seeing and hope you do also.
The pistols are lying on 17th Century Indian chain mail armour shirts, the original 'body armour' needed in a duel!
Larry on December 27, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Very nice pair. Antiques have always been a weak point for me… It appears that one was used considerably more than the other… They look a bit too large to be dueling guns!
Jeff Cordell on April 15, 2016 at 12:52 am
Beautiful. Makes me think of that great fictional antiques dealer/detective Lovejoy and the first novel in the series “The Judas Pair” (written by Jonathan Gash) in which he tracks down a pair of dueling pistols made by the legendary Durs Egg.
Ned on January 12, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Really splendid. The size does not counter-indicate duelling pistols, so much as the elaborate decoration. I believe that pistols meant for duelling were typically quite austere (albeit of the best quality). Also, though percussion duelling pistols are not unknown – I think I am correct in saying that the majority were made in the flintlock era.