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LOT 1273
Desirable
Cased Pair of
Engraved and
Gold Banded
John Blissett
Percussion
Double Barrel
Pistols
-A) J. Blissett
Double Barrel
Pistol - NSN,
28 bore/.54
cal., 5 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/
casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. John Blissett (1808-1872) was the son of Isaac Blissett who was a gun dealer,
maker, as well as a jeweler and perfumer. John is listed as an independent gunmaker and jeweler as early as 1832 and
was active until his death in 1872. This c. mid-19th century pair of “traveling pistols” features smoothbore browned
Damascus barrels with concave ribs signed “JOHN BLISSETT. 321. HIGH HOLBORN. LONDON./MAKER TO H.R.H. THE DUKE
OF SUSSEX”, and equipped with bead front sights and dovetailed notch rear sights. Each pistol is equipped with a swivel
mounted ramrod. The undersides of the barrels have London proof marks. The casehardened breech plug rib extensions
have inlaid dual gold bands and scroll engraving. The casehardened standing breeches have scroll engraving as do the
blued mounts and casehardened pommel caps. The latter have trapdoor compartments and swivels. The scroll and border engraved back action locks are signed “JOHN BLISSETT./LONDON.” The stocks have checkered wrists and
nickel-silver escutcheons. The pair comes in a fitted case with a Blissett trade label and a suite of accessories.
CONDITION: Fine with bright gold bands, crisp engraving, light patterns of original brown and casehardened finish mixed with gray and brown patina on the barrels and locks, minor oxidation, chipped rear sight, 80% original blue
on the mounts, 30% original case colors on the pommel cap, and fairly minor age and storage related wear overall. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, minor scratches, and nearly all of the high gloss finish. Mechanically
fine. The case and accessories are fine with mild storage wear including some tears and repairs on the interior and repaired crack in the refinished lid. B) J. Blissett Double Barrel Pistol - NSN, 28 bore/.54 cal., 5 1/2 inch solid rib
bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. As described in “A.”
CONDITION: Fine with bright gold bands, crisp engraving, light original brown and casehardened finish mixed with gray and brown patina on the barrels and locks along with spots of minor oxidation, 60% plus original blue on the
mounts, visible original case colors on the pommel cap and standing breech, and fairly minor age and storage related wear overall. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, minor scratches, and nearly all of the high gloss
finish. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is an attractive and desirable pair of English traveling pistols.
Provenance: The Cam & Deb Cooper Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 1272
Spectacular Cased Pair of Richards London Marked 14-Bore Percussion Dueling/Officer’s Pistols
-A) Richards Percussion Dueling Pistol - NSN, 14 bore cal., 9 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. Offered here is a beautiful cased pair of Richards of London large smooth bore, Damascus percussion dueling pistols with accessories. Rarely are these high quality British pistols found in museum worthy
condition. The top barrel flats are marked “RICHARDS, LONDON,” and the lock plates are marked “RICHARDS.” The sights are fixed. The actions are equipped with engraved sliding hammer safeties and vented platinum blow out
plugs. A floral scroll engraving is featured on the fish embellished hammers, lock plates, barrel tangs, breech plugs and trigger guards. The trigger guards have pineapple finials. The pistols have swivel iron ramrods with engraved
hardware. The nicely figured full length stocks have checkering on the grip area, smooth forearms, German silver thumb and barrel wedge escutcheons. The barrels are browned Damascus, the trigger guards are blued, and the
remaining metal surfaces are casehardened. The partitioned mahogany cased has a bone key hole escutcheon and blank brass initial plaque on the exterior of the lid.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains nearly 95% original brown Damascus with spots of dark corrosion visible near the muzzle. The trigger guard retains 97% original blue finish. The remaining metal surfaces retain 95% original
case colors. The stock is excellent with a bruise on the left flat, a barely noticeable hairline crack near the barrel tang and some minor handling marks. The checkering is crisp. The case is fine with minor handling/storage marks and
worn lining. Mechanically excellent. B) Richards Percussion Dueling Pistol - NSN, 14 bore cal., 9 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. As described in “A.”
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains 97% plus original brown Damascus minor loss at the blow out plug (area cleaned). The trigger guard retains 98% bright original high polish blue finish. The remaining metal surfaces retain
97% plus original case colors. The stock is excellent with some scattered minor handling marks and retains most of the finish. The checkering is crisp. Mechanically excellent. A beautiful set of cased British dueling pistols that are
the envy of most, if not all, antique firearm collectors.
Estimate: 7,000 - 12,000