Page 242 - 4090-BOOK3

LOT 3419
Very Scarce Pair of 17th Century Over/Under Single Lock Flintlock Pistols by
Peter Meesen of Utrecht Formerly in the Visser Collection -A) P. Meesen Over/
Under Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 53 cal., 11 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood
stock. Peter Meesen of Utrecht is listed in “Der Neue Stockel” as active c. 1660. A pair of wheellock pistols with
the same pommel profile as these pistols are featured in the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam, and other rare and
advanced pistols by him are also known in limited numbers. The two-stage smoothbore barrels are in over/under
configuration and are fitted with iron ramrods to the right sides. The lower barrel tangs also double as the trigger plates.
After firing the first shot, the upper portion of the pan can be slid back revealing the lower pan for the second shot. The locks feature ornate floral engraving along with lion designs on the cocks and are signed “Peter Meesen/Utrecht” in script. There are floral blooms engraved on the pommel caps, and the stocks have some simple carved plateaus and punched dot patterns around
the upper barrel tangs. Filled holes on the left stock flats suggest the pair once featured belt hooks, and they appear to be rosewood. This pair is featured in “The Visser Collection, Volume I, Part 4” by G. de Vries and B.J. Martens, cat. no. 917, pages 536-537.
CONDITION: Very good with mostly silver gray patina and some faint pitting. The engraving and markings remain mostly distinct. The repaired stock is good and has some splices in the wrist and a few smaller repairs along with some thin cracks, mild scratches, and attractive coloration and grain. The front ramrod pipe has been expertly replaced. Mechanically fine.
B) P. Meesen Over/Under Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 53 cal., 11 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with silver gray patina and mild pitting. The markings and engraving are generally distinct. The wood has some repairs but is otherwise good and has attractive grain
and color contrast, a splice at the toe, some repaired cracks and filled spots, and light scratches. The front ramrod pipe has been expertly replaced. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Jeanne and Robert-Jean Charles Collection; The Henk L. Visser Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 3420
Rare Engraved Left and Right Hand Pair of Spanish Miquelet Blunderbuss Belt Pistols
-A) Left Hand Belt Pistol -
NSN, 71 cal., 7 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/
bright finish, walnut stock, walnut grips. These Ripoll style pistols have
gilt “crown/MGL/VBA/RZA/BAL” punzons on the barrels and locks. The barrel have .71 caliber breech sections, and the bores flare out to around .87 caliber at the muzzles. There are decorative bands of engraving on the barrels at the transition points and some scroll and border engraving on the tangs, locks, and furniture. Belt hooks are fitted to the side plates, and the stocks have
raised floral carving by the barrel tangs. CONDITION: Fine with 40% original blue finish remaining on the barrel along with bright gold,
mottled patina on the balance of the barrel, silver gray patina on the lock and furniture,
240
and general minor overall wear. The stock is very good and has a thin crack at the front of the lock, some scratches and dings, chipping at the toe, and distinct carving. B) Right Hand Belt Pistol - NSN, 71 cal., 7 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good with traces of original blue mixed with mottled gray and brown patina along the barrel, bright gold on the barrel punzon, mostly silver gray patina on the lock and furniture, and minor overall wear. The stock is also very good and has a few minor cracks and chips, light scrapes and dings, and nice carving. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
Mechanically fine.