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89
LOT 3083
Only Known Pair of Relief Carved
Flintlock Kentucky Pistols
Attributed to Leonard Reedy
-A) Flintlock Kentucky Pistol - NSN,
54 cal., 6 7/8 inch part octagon bbl.,
antiqued brown/brass finish, curly
maple stock. This pair of pistols
has been attributed to Leonard
Reedy (1776-1837), one of the most
respected master riflemakers from
the “Golden Age.” They are the only
known pistols attributed to Reedy.
Compare the carving with the Reedy
signed rifle in the previous lot. One
of Reedy’s rifles is on display in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Gallery
372, and many of his rifles are featured
in “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in
Its Golden Age” by Kindig. The MET
notes: “Reedy apprenticed under
John Bonewitz in Womelsdorf, later
moving with him to Pine Grove where
they jointly established a gun shop
in about 1808.” Greg Lampe indicated
one of the pistols had been converted
to percussion and relined to .40 caliber
and indicates the pistols were restored
by well-respected master gunsmith
Brian LaMaster, former president of
the Kentucky Rifle Association. He also
indicated LaMaster “proclaimed they
were undoubtedly made by Leonard
Reedy.” The mounts and barrels are
similar to pistols identified as from
Halbach & Son of Baltimore, including
examples on pages 63-65 of “The
Kentucky Pistol” by Chandler and
Whisker and a pistol on page 247 of
“Kentucky Rifles & Pistols 1750-1850”.
The side plates are also the same
design seen on several 18th century
French pistols. The cannon shaped
two-stage barrels have “EX” marked
on the upper left flats near the
breech. The locks are unmarked. The
mounts are brass, and the trigger
guards feature acorn finials. The
wrists have blank brass escutcheons
and a series of three pins above the
heel of the pommel caps. The stocks
are curly maple and have the noted
raised relief carving by the
barrel tangs.
CONDITION: Fine overall as
professionally restored with dark
brown on the lock and barrel, mild
oxidation and pitting, aged patina
on the brass mounts, distinct
carving, attractive flame figure, and
mild overall wear. Mechanically
functions. B) Flintlock Kentucky
Pistol - NSN, 54 cal., 6 7/8 inch part
octagon bbl., antique brown/brass
finish, curly maple stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Fine overall as
professionally restored with dark
brown on the lock and barrel,
mild pitting mainly on the cock,
attractively aged patina on the
mounts, crisp carving, attractive
flame figure, and general mild
overall wear. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: Michael Simens;
The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500