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LOT 3338
Engraved and Gold Inlaid Durs Egg Flintlock Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 647, 50 cal., 9 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/gold/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1800 by Swiss-born London gunmaker Durs Egg with a smoothbore Damascus barrel with a fixed blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, “-D. EGG. LONDON-” signed in gold inlay, gold band at the breech, and gold lined vent. “647” is marked on the underside of the barrel, the breech plug hook, on the forend under the barrel,
and on the inside of the lock. The lock is signed “D. Egg” and has foliate and sunburst engraving, a large frizzen spring roller, and a sliding half-cock safety that also secures the frizzen. The lock is fired using an adjustable single set trigger. The iron furniture includes a stylized pineapple finial on the trigger guard. The full-length stock has a checkered wrist, and a later horn tipped ramrod is included. CONDITION: Very good overall as refinished with light brown finish and twist patterns visible along the barrel, dark brown patina on the lock and furniture, some mild pitting at the breech, crisp checkering on the wrist, some repairs in the stock, and general mild overall wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3339
Cased Pair of Engraved Mortimer Half-Stock Percussion Conversion Dueling Pistols -A) Mortimer Dueling Pistol - NSN, 28 bore/.54 cal., 8 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/silver/blue finish, walnut stock. These pistols were originally built as flintlocks in the early 19th century and were then professionally converted to percussion around the 1830s. The smoothbore, Damascus barrels have dovetail mounted silver blade front sights, “Mortimer” and “London” marked on top in different scripts, Birmingham proofs, and scroll engraved breech plugs. The fixed notch rear sights are on the standing breeches. The locks are signed “MORTIMER” and have scroll and border engraving and sliding safeties. The pistols feature adjustable single set triggers enclosed in blued trigger guards with floral and martial engraving. The forend caps, oval wedge escutcheons, and blank wrist escutcheons are silver. The half-stocks have checkered bag shaped grips. The pair comes in a relined case fitted to the pair that also contains cap tins, a “31” marked ball mold, an unmarked approximately 33 bore mold, an oiler, a three-way combination flask, and a screwdriver and nipple wrench set. CONDITION: Very good with distinct markings and engraving, attractive aged patina on the silver, 75% period refurbished blue, gray and brown patina on the balance, some nice twist patterns visible along the barrel, and fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, minor edge wear, and some light scratches. Mechanically fine. The relined case is good with some repairs and storage wear. The accessories are mostly fine with mild wear. B) Mortimer Dueling Pistol - NSN, 28 bore/.54 cal., 8 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/silver/blue finish, walnut stock. As described in “A”. CONDITION: Very good with distinct engraving and markings, mix of fading original brown finish and gray and brown patina on the barrel along with nice twist patterns, mottled gray and brown patina on the lock plate and standing breech, light case colors on the hammer and breech plug, attractive aged patina on the silver, 90% plus period refurbished blue, and minor age and storage related wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, some minor dings and scratches, and some finish wear at the breech. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3340
Fine James Low Silver Mounted “Queen Anne” Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 62 cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., bright/silver finish, walnut grips. James Low is recorded as apprenticed to John Brooke in 1717 and free of the Gunmakers’ Company in 1724 and was active until c. 1753 and is particularly known for his silver mounted “Queen Anne” pistols. The grotesque mask pommel cap has a “JA” silversmith mark and a hallmark. The martial themed wedge escutcheon and side plate are also silver, and the escutcheon is inscribed with the motto “DEUM TIME” in a banner over a crest of a hand with a pierced wrist (hand of Christ) holding an unfurled scroll and a torse at the bottom. The same motto and a crest of a hand and scroll were used by the Murray family of Scotland. The smoothbore “cannon” barrel has a “1” by the lug on the bottom, and the underside
of the breech has a corresponding “1” along with “JAMES LOW” over a London proof mark
and view mark flanking the “crown/F” foreigner’s mark. The barrel unscrews for loading at the breech. The top of the breech has “LONDON,” and there
is some light scroll, floral, and border engraving. The stock has floral carving around the upper tang.
CONDITION: Fine with attractive aged patina on the silver, mostly silver-gray patina on the iron, some faint pitting, a crack in the frame to the left of the trigger, hairline cracks visible in the cock, and distinct
markings. The stock has crisp relief carving, smooth finish, light dings and scratches, and some gaps in the fit to the metal. Mechanically
fine. This is a very attractive example of a classic English “Queen Anne” pistol.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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