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LOT 1085
Outstanding Cased Tipping & Lawden Sharps Patent Four-Shot Pepperbox Pistol - Serial no. 184, 30 RF cal., 3 inch fluted bbl., blue/silver finish, hard rubber grips. This is an exceptional example of a cased Sharps Patent Four-Shot Pepperbox pistol that was manufactured by the English gun maker Tipping & Lawden. Tipping & Lawden were one of just two licensed European manufacturers of Sharps’ pistols. This Model 2 pistol has a blue barrel group, silver frame, casehardened small parts, and checkered hard rubber grips. The left side of the frame is marked “TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS PATENT” in a circle surrounding the hammer screw. The serial number is marked on the underside of the barrel group on the guide, on the frame at the front under
the barrel, firing pin, bottom of the grip strap, underside of the buttplate, and on the bottom of each grip panel. Two small English proofs are marked
in the flute on each side of the barrel group. The pistol comes in a English style case with an inlaid brass shield and banner on the lid and blue velvet lined interior. The inside of the lid has a C. Parker label. It has a compartment with sliding wood lid containing eight cartridges, one bullet, and additional compartments for the included oiler, screw driver, and ejector rod.
CONDITION: Excellent. This pistol retains 98% plus of the original finishes with a dark, nearly blue patina on the silver plating and some brass starting to show through. The hammer has brilliant case colors. The grips are also excellent with sharp checkering, some slight warping, and minor handling marks. The action remains excellent, and the markings are crisp. The case is very fine with several small pressure marks on the lid, and some slight separation at the front right corner. The accessories are also very good. This is among the few Tipping & Lawden Sharps pistols that have found their way to the States and is in a much better condition than most of those found anywhere. The appropriate case and accessories help set it apart further from the rest. Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
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Attractive Gold Inlaid and Silver Embellished and Engraved Four Shot Pocket Pistol Serial Number “1” - Serial no. 1, 7 mm cal., 3 1/8 inch fluted bbl., blue/gold/silver finish, hardwood grips. This Spanish pistol borrows
attributes from both the Sharps and Starr pepperbox pistols and is marked “FA DE MARCUS” on the upper right barrel and “ACHA EN EIBAR” on the upper right in gold. The upper barrels also have gold and silver designs. Like the Starr pistols, the barrels tip up for reloading via a button on the left side of the frame which is engraved with a checkered
and star pattern. The frame, however, has a center hammer and overall shape more reminiscent of the Sharps pistols. It is fitted with a pair of dark finished hardwood grips with checkering and carved designs.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrels retain 80% of the original blue finish and nearly all of the silver and gold accents. The balance of the barrel group has a brown patina. The frame has gray and brown patina with crisp designs. The grips are also very fine with some slight handling wear.
Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1086