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LOT 363
Cased Pair of Engraved Hutchinson Flintlock Dueling Pistols
-A) Hutchinson Dueling Pistol - NSN, 24 bore cal., 9 7/8 inch octagon
bbl., brown/gold/silver/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. The Irish
were well-known for dueling, and the Irish Code Duello of 1777 was a
popular rule set even abroad, and owning a pair of dueling pistols was a
matter of pride and respect for gentlemen. However, Irish made dueling
pistols can be hard to come by. Michael Hutchinson was active as a
gunmaker on Dames Street in Dublin c. 1770-1811 during the heyday
of pistol dueling. Like some other examples of his dueling pistols, the
locks are fitted via a screw into the standing breech, and the left side
of the stocks instead of a side plate have silver oval escutcheons, in
this case inscribed with a griffin over the initials “AC.” The swamped,
smoothbore, Damascus barrels have blade front sights near the muzzles,
“HUTCHINSON+DUBLIN” signed on the top flats, London style proof
marks, large gold vent liners, and beaded borders at the breech ends.
The standing breeches have the same border design along with notch
rear sights and floral engraving. The advanced locks have frizzen
rollers, stepped tails, half-cock safeties, scroll and bead engraving, and
“HUTCHINSON” signed near the centers. The furniture is blued iron with
floral pattern engraving. The pistols have single set triggers. The slender
stocks have slab sided wrists. The pair comes in a fitted case with a ball
mold, leather wrapped combination flask, flints, balls, cleaning rod, and key.
CONDITION: Very good with a mix of restored brown and dark patina along the barrel, traces of case colors and mostly dark gray patina on the lock, traces of blue and otherwise silver-gray patina on the furniture, aged patina on the silver, bright gold, and some cracks and repairs in the refinished stock. Mechanically fine. The accessories are mostly fine with mild age and storage related wear, relined/reworked case, and new wrap on the flask.
B) Hutchinson Dueling Pistol - NSN, 24 bore cal., 9 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/gold/silver/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with a mix of restored brown finish and dark patina on the barrel, traces of case colors and gray patina on the lock, traces of original blue finish but mostly silver-gray patina on the furniture, spots of mild oxidation, spliced forend tip and other lesser repairs in the stock, bright gold, and aged patina on the silver. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 364
Cased Pair of Knubley Flintlock Pistols -A) Knubley Flintlock Pistol
- NSN, 58 cal., 9 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. John Knubley of Otley, Yorkshire, was a sword cutler and gunmaker from the 1770s to 1795, including on Charing Cross in London in 1786-1794 and was also an Ordnance contractor per Blackmore, and his shop was continued by Samuel Brunn until 1797. The two-stage, smoothbore barrels are marked “London” on top and have “crown/P” and “crown/V”“private proofs” along with smaller London style proof and view marks and some simple border designs. The locks are signed “Knubley” and have stepped tails and rollers on the frizzen springs. The furniture is iron and includes a pineapple finial on the trigger guard and additional floral engraving. The case contains a powder flask, ball, flints, ball mold, and a heavy iron rod.
CONDITION: Good with mottled gray patina overall, some mild pitting,
rough repaired frizzen spring, and distinct engraving. The stock is very good and has some minor marks and scratches. Mechanically needs work as the lock will not hold at full-cock. The case is fair and has a missing the key
hole escutcheon, loose corner protectors, and some cracks and tears. The accessories are very good with mild wear.
B) Knubley Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 58 cal., 9 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. See “A”.
CONDITION: Very good with gray patina, mild pitting, and general mild wear. The stock is also very good and has some general scratches and dings, chip at the forend tip on the left, thin crack at the rear lock screw, and minor flakes. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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