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LOT 1299
Bunney, London, Double Barrel Boxlock Flintlock
Pistol with Screw-Off Barrels and Silver Grotesque
Mask and Wire Inlays - NSN, 50 cal., 4 1/8 inch round
bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. This distinctive double barrel
cover over the pan for the right barrel to allow the pistol to fire two shots in succession using a single wide frizzen and cock. The barrels have “D-N9864” Irish registration marks indicating the pistol was in County Down, Ireland, around 1843. The
barrels are numbered “3” and “4” at the breech, so the pistol was originally part of a pair. The bottom at the breech also have Tower proofs. The
left side of the frame has “LONDON” and “BUNNEY” in banners among
the scroll and floral engraving. English gunmaker Joseph Bunney was active 1765-1814. The Birmingham silver hallmarks on the classic grotesque mask of this pistol are difficult to read, but the date code appears to either be “A” for 1773 or “H” for 1780. The grip also has silver wire scroll and floral inlays and a silver escutcheon.
CONDITION: Very good with attractive aged patinas on the brass and
silver, dark brown patina and moderate to heavy pitting on the iron,
and some general dings and scratches. The grip is also very good and has some small slivers of inlay absent, a few minor dents, and mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1301
Very Scarce Wallis Four Barrel Tap Action Boxlock
Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 2 1/4 inch round bbl., bright
finish, walnut grips. George Wallis (1731-1803) was a gunmaker
in Hull, England, as was his son of the
same name that died in 1833. This
pistol is pre-1813 based on the private
“crown/P” proofs on the underside of
the action. It has four barrels configured
with an upper and lower barrel and then
a left and right barrel rather than the more common two up and two down
configuration. The lever on the left rotates the pan and has only two positions.
The left side of the action has“Wallis,”and the right side has“Hull.”The action also has a sliding safety.
The smooth walnut grip has a border engraved silver escutcheon on the back and a nickel-silver plate at
the heel.
CONDITION: Good with mottled gray and brown patina, mild oxidation and pitting, and general moderate overall wear. The grip is also good and has some minor chips, a repaired crack, and dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1302
Scarce Wheeler & Son Four-Shot Tap Action Boxlock
Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 38 cal., 2 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish,
walnut grips. Robert Wheeler & Son of
Birmingham was active c. 1814-1843.
This pistol would be from the earlier
part of that range. It has “WHEELER/&
SON/BIRMINGHAM” on the left in an
oval with martial trophies engraved in the background, coordinating
engraving and a sliding cover on the right for the right pan, sliding safety
on top, Birmingham proofs on the bottom, numbered barrels (0-3), and a
lever on the left for rotating between the four flash pans in relatively fast order, especially compared to
the single shot pistols that were most common in the era. All a shooter had to do was re-cock, close the
frizzen, and switch pans to fire a subsequent shot. The grip is checkered walnut and has a floral pattern
silver cap and silver diamond escutcheon.
CONDITION: Very good with gray and brown patina on the iron, aged patinas on the silver and frame, mostly distinct markings and engraving. and mild overall wear. The grip is also very good with slightly battered iron cap and some minor dings and scratches in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1303
Engraved Pair of Boxlock Flintlock Pocket Pistols -
A) Boxlock Pocket Pistol - NSN, 52 cal., 1 1/2 inch round bbl.,
bright finish, walnut grips. These pistols were likely
manufactured in France in the early 19th century.
Similar pistols were made by Boutet and the Versailles
Manufactory. They have fine floral pattern engraving,
“1” and “2” respectively on the left sides at the breeches, sliding
safeties, folding triggers, screw-off barrels, and floral and scale
pattern relief carved walnut grips with “N30” marked at the toes and
what looks to be “63v” ont he front right and “122” along the edge on
the front left.
CONDITION: Very good with bright polished surfaces,
refinished niter blue on the frizzen spring and safety,
crisp engraving, and minor wear. The grip is also very
good and has crisp scale and floral patterns, a fainr
crack on the right, and minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically fine. B) Boxlock Pocket Pistol - NSN, 52 cal., 1 1/2 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with bright polished surfaces, strong refinished niter blue on the frizzen spring and safety, crisp engraving, and minor overall wear. The grip is very fine and has crisp floral and scale patterns and minor wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
pistol employs a sliding
LOT 1300
Engraved Pair of Double Barrel Tap Action Boxlock Flintlock
Pistols -A) Tap Action Pistol - NSN, 42 cal., 3 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. These early 19th century pistols have Liege proofs, floral engraving, sliding safeties, and checkered grips with floral carving on the flats.
CONDITION: Fine with gray patina, crisp engraving, minor oxidation/pitting, and general mild age and storage related wear. The grip is also fine and has some spots of wear in the otherwise distinct checkering, crisp carving, and mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.
B) Tap Action Pistol - NSN, 42 cal., 3 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. See “A.” CONDITION: Fine with gray patina, distinct engraving, light oxidation and pitting, and mild overall wear. The grip is also fine and has crisp carving, a few worn areas on the otherwise crisp checkering, and some dents and scratches. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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