Page 272 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1286
Cased Pair of Engraved and Gold and Silver Accented Durs Egg Flintlock Dueling Pistols -A)
D. Egg Dueling Pistol - Serial no. DE399, 50 cal., 9 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/
silver/gold finish, walnut stock. This pair of early 19th century dueling pistols from the shop of Durs Egg
(1748-1831) in London features an interesting 90 degree grip angle similar to the heavier “saw-handle”
dueling pistols. The smoothbore Damascus barrels feature gold blade front sights, “D. EGG LONDON”
signed in gold inlay, and casehardened breech plugs with dovetailed notch rear sights, platinum vent
liners, and duel gold bands. The underside of the barrels are marked “DE 399” along with London proof
and view marks, and “399” is repeated on the breech hooks and on the stocks under the barrels. The flat
locks are signed “D. Egg” in script at the center and “D EGG/PATENT” on the frizzens and have rainproof
priming pans, frizzen spring rollers, and sliding safeties. The triggers press forward to set and have
no visible adjustment screws. “Detented” pistols were sometimes viewed as unfair in a duel, but they
essentially became standard by the late flintlock era. Aside from the silver wedge escutcheons
and gold wrist escutcheons, the pistols feature border, foliate, burst, and martial trophy
engraving throughout. The trigger guards are fitted with screw affixed spurs. The wrists have
checkering with molded borders and a flared pommels. The horn tipped baleen ramrods
features a covered worm on the end of one and a measure on the end of the other. The pair
comes in a green baize lined mahogany case with a Durs Egg trade label inside referencing
his appointment as gunmaker to the Prince of Wales and Duke of York. The case contains a
three-way combination flask, rod, mallet head, worm, oiler, and “46” marked ball mold. Notes
from the Norman R. Blank Collection indicate this pair was purchased on June 14, 1963, from
Clay P. Bedford and came from the Everett Collection sold by Jackson Arms. The pair was
exhibited as part of Norman R. Blank’s collection at the NRA in 2004.
270