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LOT 3344
Cased Pair of Engraved and Gold Banded Baker Percussion Pistols with Markings for Charles D. Cayley of H.M.S. Rodney at Malta
-A) Baker Percussion Pistol - NSN, 41 cal., 3 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/German silver/blue finish, walnut stock. This pair of pistols from circa 1840 would have fit a coat pocket nicely for personal defense
and features smoothbore, browned, Damascus barrels
with brass cone front sights, “BAKER, LONDON.” signed
on top, and swivel mounted ramrods underneath. The casehardened breech plugs have floral engraving on the bolsters, single gold inlaid bands, and scroll engraving on top. The standing breech has a notch rear sight and scroll engraving. The casehardened locks have scroll engraving and are signed “BAKER.” The trigger guards and ramrod pipes are blued, and the trigger guard bow features scroll engraving. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are German silver. The stocks have checkered bag shaped grips. The
pair comes in a fitted hardwood case with a “70” marked mold (70 bore is approximately .405 caliber), three-way combination flask, cap tin, and loading/cleaning rod. The case lid has “Charles D. Cayley Esq/H.M.S. Rodney/Malta”
in black ink. The second-rate ship of the line HMS Rodney was launched in 1833 and was primarily based in the Mediterranean Sea. During the Crimean War, it served in
the Black Sea. It is noted as the last unarmored wooden battleship in full commission in the Royal Navy. Charles Digby Cayley (1827-1844) was the youngest son of Liberal MP Edward Stillingfleet Cayley (1802-1862) for the North Riding of Yorkshire and Emma Cayley (1797-1848), daughter of Baronet George Cayley (1773-1857) of aeronautical science fame. Charles Cayley studied at Eton and became
a midshipman in the Royal Navy. The Morning Chronicle
of London on May 23, 1844, noted Cayley as having “distinguished himself in the Rodney, on the coast of Syria, and had, with others been awarded a medal for the victories at Acre and other places on that coast. The sailing-boat in which he and his companion (Jewell) were lost, seems to have gone down suddenly in a squall, head foremost, taking these two promising youths, devoted to the service of
their country, down with it, never to rise again.” Cayley was assigned to the HMS Shearwater at the time of his death. The Shearwater was a government surveying steamer then under the command of Captain Charles Robinson. CONDITION: Fine with mostly gray and brown patina on the lock and barrel, bright gold band and patches of vibrant original case colors, 80% original blue, aged patina on the silver, and generally mild overall wear. The stock is fine with crisp checkering, a small chip on the left edge of the forend, and some mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are fine with mild age and storage related wear.
B) Baker Percussion Pistol - NSN, 41 cal., 3 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/German silver/blue finish, walnut stock, walnut grips. See “A.”
CONDITION: Fine with 50% plus of the original brown finish remaining on the barrel, 60% original case colors, aged patina on the silver, 80% original blue finish, some patches of light oxidation/pitting, and generally minor age and storage related wear. The stock is fine with a faint crack at the forend tip on the right, mild scrapes and dings, and crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a very attractive cased pair of British percussion pistols with a case marked for an ill-fated midshipman in the Royal Navy. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500
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