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LOT 72
Presentation Cased, Exhibition Grade Engraved, and Silver Plated Tipping & Lawden Sharps Patent Pepperbox Pistol with Extraordinary ‘Tiffany’ Style Grips - Serial no. 295, 30 RF cal., 3 inch fluted bbl., blue/silver finish, brass grips. Thomas Tipping Lawden and Caleb Lawden of Birmingham, trading under the name Tipping & Lawden, were one of only two foreign firms licensed by Sharps to manufacture these distinctive pocket pistols in Europe and manufactured around 6,000 of them in the 1860s and 1870s in multiple variations. Since they were designed to be readily carried, most are well-worn, but this example is high condition and has beautiful engraved English scrollwork and rosettes on the vast majority of the silver plated brass frame and grips as well as border and scroll engraving and stippled grasping sections on the blued barrel group. The top rib has a German silver cone front sight, and the standing breech has a groove that serves as the rear sight. The left side of the frame has “TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS’ PATENT,” and the serial number is on the bottom of the barrel group. It comes in a hardwood presentation case with a cleaning rod, screwdriver, and key. CONDITION: Very fine overall with 90% plus original silver plating on the frame, 50% plus original blue finish on the barrels, 30% original case colors on the hammer, patches of original silver on the grips, aged patinas on the silver and exposed brass, sharp markings and engraving, smooth gray patina on the faded areas of the barrel group, mostly bright muzzle face, and minor age and handling related wear overall. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has some minor cracks and general scrapes and dings. This is the finest Tipping & Lawden Sharps Pepperbox RIAC has ever offered and is especially unique due to its distinctive finely engraved metal grip.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500 87