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LOT 3316
Magnificent Presentation Cased Pair of Exhibition Quality Gold
Damascened French Percussion Dueling/Target Pistols by Prelat of
Paris -A) Prelat Percussion Pistol - NSN, 38 cal., 9 5/8 inch octagon bbl.,
black/gold finish, carved ebony stock. Percussion dueling pistols were
popular in the mid to late 19th century in Continental Europe, particularly
in France, and were often made as exhibition and presentation pieces.
As duels became ever more rare, these pistols were primarily used for
target shooting, sometimes using special dueling targets. This beautiful
cased pair of mid-nineteenth century dueling pistols comes from the
shop of well-known Parisian gunmaker Francois Prelat who displayed at
the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris. They feature gold damascened
scrollwork and borders on the barrels, locks, and mounts and ebony half-
stocks with fluted wrists and relief carved scrollwork. The barrels have
“PRELAT ARQ A PARIS” in raised gilt letters, dovetailed bead front sights,
and their bores relined to .38 caliber (likely originally .44-.50 caliber). Notch
rear sights are fitted to the standing breeches. The pistols are numbered
“1” and “2” in gold on the top barrel flats and standing breeches. The pistols
are in a French-fitted ebonized case with green baize lining. The case
lid is inlaid with three silver bands around the edges and a nickel-silver
escutcheon in the center inscribed with an elaborate monogram (appears
to be “AG”). The inside of the lid is retailer marked in gold with “LAGREZE
Bte/10. RUE RAMBUTEAU/PARIS”. The case contains a variety of
loading and maintenance equipment.
CONDITION: Excellent with 98% of the original black finish and nearly all
of the gold. Handling wear is limited to some thinning on the inside of
the grip strap and on the trigger guard finger spur. The ebony stock is also
excellent with only very minor handling wear. Mechanically excellent. The
case exterior is good with cracks and pieces of border absent from the lid
and mild dings and scratches. The case interior is very fine with minor age
and storage related wear. The accessories are generally fine with minor
wear, including some light oxidation/pitting on the mold.
B) Prelat Percussion Pistol - NSN, 38 cal., 9 5/8 inch octagon bbl., black/
gold finish, carved ebony stock. As described in “A.”
CONDITION: Excellent with 90% of the original black finish and nearly all
of the gold. Handling wear is limited to some thinning on the inside of the
grip straps and on the trigger guard finger spur. The gold on the grip strap
shows some slight wear. The ebony stock is excellent with only very minor
handling wear. This is a magnificent cased pair of highest quality 19th
century French percussion dueling pistols.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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