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LOT 3317
Cased Pair of Muller Percussion Target Pistols
-A) Muller Target Pistol - Serial no. 1567, 11 mm cal.,
10 1/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. J. Muller of Lyon, France, was active c.
1855 per “Der Neue Stockel,” and others have noted
Swiss gunmaker Johan Muller had a shop in Lyon.
The blued rifled barrels have dovetailed bead style
front sights, “MULLER ARQER A LYON” signed on top,
the serial number on the bottom, and casehardened
breechplugs numbered “1” and “2” respectively.
Screw adjustable notch rear sights are fitted on the
casehardened standing breeches. The furniture is also
casehardened and is nicely sculpted, including the
spurs on the trigger guards. The pistols are equipped
with adjustable single triggers and have nicely
figured walnut stocks with carved borders around the
checkering. The pair comes in a fitted hardwood case
with “MULLER/ARQUEBUSIER/A LYON” in gilt lettering
inside the lid, and a suite of loading and maintenance tools.
CONDITION: Excellent overall with 90% plus bright original blue and casehardened finish and only minimal light handling and storage related wear including some faint spotting and minor dings on the otherwise excellent wood. Mechanically excellent. The case has some cracks, but it and the accessories are otherwise also very fine and have minor age and storage related wear.
B) Muller Target Pistol - Serial no. 1567, 11 mm cal., 10 1/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Excellent overall with 95% plus bright original blue and casehardened finish and
only minimal light handling and storage marks, and minor dings in the otherwise excellent stock. Mechanically excellent. Overall, this is a stunning cased set in remarkably high condition. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 3318
Very Fine Cased Pair of Engraved and Relief Carved Gastinne-Renette Percussion Dueling/ Target Pistols Attributed to the Vieyra-Laury Duel in 1852 -A) Gastinne-Renette Percussion Pistol - NSN, 11 mm cal., 10 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, ebony stock. By the mid-19th century when these pistols were produced, Gastinne-Renette was the premier dueling pistol dealers in Paris and even had a shooting gallery where duelists could practice using dueling targets. Included information attributes the pair as brought by Alfred Vieyra-Molina to a duel in Paris 1852 with Captain Gabriel Laury of the 1st Legion of the National Guards. This duel is recorded in various publications both in the period and in subsequent dueling histories. Vieyra’s uncle was an ally of Napoleon III in his coup and was the Chief of Staff of the National Guards and had led them
in their assault on newspapers opposed to Napoleon III. Vieyra and Laury are reported to have quarreled a billiard saloon in relation to a dangerous mission Laury accused Vieyra’s uncle of refusing and instead passing the task to Laury. They agreed to fight a duel with pistols at twelve paces and then if neither man was hit in the first exchange of shots to continue the fight with cavalry sabers. The duel was interrupted by an official, so in haste the duelists fought instead with sabers, and after twenty minutes, Vieyra was wounded by a thrust to the breast. Laury was subsequently arrested
for having insulted his superior officer, Colonel Vieyra. This pair of pistols’ browned barrels are each signed “Fourni par Gastinne Renette a Paris” (Provided by Gastinne Renette of Paris). The underside of each barrel features an “EL” Liege proof along with “1” and “2” respectively (also marked on various other components and “10.4” on the underside of pistol “2.” The barrels are octagonal with fluted mid-sections, but they are oriented so that ridges rather that flats run along the top. They
are each equipped with a blued dovetailed blade front sight and casehardened breech plug with an attractively sculpted bolster. The standing breeches each feature a non-adjustable notch rear sight. The locks and furniture are also casehardened and feature engraving en suite. The ebony half- stocks feature relief carved scrollwork on the forends and finely checkered wrists. The pair comes
in an ebony case with green baize lining, “GASTINNE-RENETTE/PARIS” in gilt letters and a suite of
coordinating loading and maintenance equipment.
CONDITION: Very fine overall with 85% plus of the lightly fading period refurbished brown
finish remaining, 70% case colors with some fading mainly on the lock plate, crisp markings and
engraving, slight handling and storage wear on the otherwise crisp checkering and carving, and
some light dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good with age and storage related wear, including some stains and tears from contact on the lining and cracks and chips on the exterior. The accessories are generally very fine with only minor storage wear. One of the containers is cracked. B) Gastinne-Renette Percussion Pistol - NSN, 11 mm cal., 10 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, ebony stock.
CONDITION: Very fine overall with 80% plus of the lightly fading period refurbished brown finish remaining, 85% bright case colors remaining on the lock and furniture, crisp markings and engraving, some light handling and
storage wear, and crisp checkering and carving. Mechanically excellent. 188 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500