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LOT 1321 Very Rare John Gray, Dublin Superposed Load Flintlock Officer’s Pistol - NSN, 63 cal., 10 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. John Gray was a gunmaker from Edinburgh working in Dublin in the 1780s. This pistol is a very interesting and rare example of a superposed load muzzle loading firearm. Two loads are loaded within the barrel, one on top of the other. The tight fitting ball of the second load acts as a gas seal to prevent both loads from going off at once. This technique has generally not proven satisfactory in the field, and the ignition of both loads together could be very dangerous for the user. On this example the pistol has two locks. The right lock has a vent at the front of the pan that leads to a channel along the front section of the lock to a vent hole in the barrel. The left lock is a standard flintlock and has the pan directly aligned with a vent on the barrel. The smoothbore barrel is turned down at the muzzle and has a block front sight for mounting a socket bayonet. The barrel is signed “J-GRAY DUBLIN” on top and has “P/V” proofmarks on the upper left and some bead- work engraving at the breech. The locks have “GRAY” (right) and “J/GRAY” (left) signatures and some scroll and floral engraving. The furniture is brass and has coordinating engraving as well as an acorn finial on the trigger guard. The stock has a slab sided wrist like the dueling pistols of the era and a silver escutcheon inscribed “REL” on the back. CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray patina on the locks and barrel, attractive aged patina on the furniture, generally crisp engraving and markings, moderate pitting concentrated on the barrel, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some minor hairline cracks and scattered minor dings and scratches. The trigger currently will not trip the left lock; otherwise, the pistol is mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
Double Barrel Pistol with Boutet
Signed Locks and Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 62 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., brown/
bright finish, walnut stock. Nicholas Noel Boutet (1761–1833) is one of France’s most renown
gunmakers and served both King Louis XVI and Napoleon. This pistol reflects the more floral style popular under
the Bourbons and appears to be an older pistol updated with Boutet locks. It has rifled, Damascus barrels with a
blade front sight on the rib. The standing breech has a wide dished rear sights. The right lock is signed “Boutet/
Directeur,” and the left has “Manufacture/a Versailles.” There is some light floral engraving. The stock has raised
floral carving at the upper tang and some silver wire inlays on the back.
CONDITION: Fair with light twist patterns and finish remaining on the barrel, gray and brown patina on the balance, some mild oxidation and pitting, poor fit of the locks and barrels, a small dent in the right barrel at the breech, cracked and chipped stock with some repairs, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1323
Attractive Pair of Silver Mounted French Flintlock Officer’s Pistols by LeClerc -A) French Officer’s Pistol - NSN, 60 cal., 6 1/4 inch semi-octagon bbl., fire blue/silver finish, walnut stock. Nicolas LeClerc was one of the premier French gunmaker’s of the late Ancien Regime, French Revolution and Napoleonic Era. He was brevetted by King Louis XVI and famously worked with Boutet on many of the finest arms to come from the Versailles Manufactory in the late 18th and early 19th century. These pistols have swamped, semi-octagonal (round bottom) barrels with
fine “micro-groove” rifling, fixed blade front sights, “crown/AM” marks on the left, sunken gilt
“L-C” maker’s marks on the upper left and right flats, sunken gilt “L[crossed branches]C” maker’s marks on top, additional markings on the bottom including “L. MIRIEV,” and hooked breeches. The standing breeches have dished rear sights and some floral and border engraving. The locks have coordinating scroll and floral engraving, frizzen spring rollers, and pointed teats. The barrels, standing breeches, locks, and triggers are fire blued. The furniture is silver and features primarily floral engraving. The trigger guard bows have rabbits. There are also “J-C” maker’s marks and hallmarks. The stocks have checkered wrists, flared pommels, carved floral borders by the upper tangs, and track-line designs down the back of the wrists.
CONDITION: Very good with 20% original fire blue finish mainly confined to the lock and protected areas, gray patina on the balance of the iron, mild oxidation and pitting on the barrel, attractive aged patina on the silver furniture, mostly distinct markings and engraving, and mild overall wear. The re-oiled stock is good and has some cracks and repairs int he forend, partially smoothed checkering and carving, and minor dings and scratches. The half-cock notch is not secure, but the pistol is otherwise mechanically fine. B) French Officer’s Pistol - NSN, 60 cal., 6 1/4 inch semi- octagon bbl., fire blue/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with 25% original fire blue remaining mixed with gray and brown patina, some light oxidation and pitting, attractive aged patina on the silver furniture, generally distinct engraving, and mild overall wear. The re-oiled stock is also very good and has partially smoothed checkering and carving, minor hairline cracks at the forend tip, and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 1322
Rare Engraved Rifled Flintlock
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