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LOT 1328
European Flintlock Holster Pistol with Dated Inscription and Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 28 bore/.54 cal., 10 1/4 inch round bbl., bright/gold finish, walnut stock. This Central European style pistol has a smoothbore barrel with a blade front sight, long sighting rib inscribed “K:S:C:C: Pramie im Reiten. 1834/Cad: v. Metzradt” indicating an award for riding, side ribs, and engraving at the breech and tang. The lock has some light border designs. The gilt brass furniture has a variety of cavalry themed scenes along with a grotesque mask cap. A “V” and “1” are marked on the trigger guard tang. The stock has a horn forend cap and raised relief carved floral scroll patterns. CONDITION: Fine with mottled patina and oil staining on the lock and barrel, some minor oxidation/pitting, mix of original gilding and aged patina on the furniture, distinct markings and designs, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine aside from some old cracks and repairs mainly on the right side and has crisp carving, smooth oiled finish, and light age and storage related wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1329
Fine Gilt Finish Bertrand Piraube Flintlock Pistol with Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 52 cal., 6 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., gold finish, walnut stock. This attractive French pistol is signed “PIRAVBE AVX/GALLERIES A PARIS” on the lock. Bertrand Piraube is recorded as the gunmaker to “The Sun King,” King Louis XIV, and as having been granted prestigious lodgings in the Louvre Palace in 1670 when additional artists were granted space in the former royal palace after the court moved to Versailles and remained there until 1725. He also made guns for royalty outside of France, including a flintlock pistol made for King Charles XI of Sweden in 1676 in the MET (Accession Number: 1990.114.2). The multi-stage, smoothbore, gilt brass barrel has a bust and martial trophies at the breech along with floral accents and borders and eagle design on the bright steel tang. The lock has a rounded, gilt brass plate with border engraving and some scroll and border engraving on the swan neck cock. The furniture is also gilt brass and has scroll and border engraving. The pierced, scrolling side plate is particularly attractive as is the very distinctive pierced wrist escutcheon which has a rounded steel centerpiece. The pommel cap stud has a satyr style grotesque mask. The nicely figure stock has beautiful molding and raised relief scroll carving with floral accents. CONDITION: Fine with 50% of the original gilt finish remaining, attractive aged patina on the exposed brass, mild scratches and dings, a slightly ill-fitting replacement frizzen, and general mild overall wear. The refinished stock is very good and has distinct carving, some subtle repaired cracks and splices, attractive figure in the wrist, and general minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1330 Scarce Early Engraved, Gold Accented, and Carved Flintlock Over/Under Pistol - NSN, 48 cal., 14 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/silver/gold finish, hardwood stock. There are no identifying markings, but the overall design is similar to some of the mid-17th century French pistols. This interesting over/under flintlock pistol uses a single long back action lock. Pulling back on the fence allows the upper section of the pan to slide to the rear revealing a second lower pan for the lower barrel. The smoothbore barrels have gold accented floral engraving and silver inlaid floral patterns on the breech sections. The lock has coordinating engraving, and the trigger guard has matching silver inlaid ornamentation. Instead of a side plate, the stock has a very defined flat with floral, border, and scroll carving and two small bone lock screw washers. A small white “1062” inventory marking is on the left side below the flat. Fluted panels extend up along the sides of the barrels, and a ramrod is carried on the left side. The pommel is flared and has incised line borders and a contrasting ebony cap. CONDITION: Very good with traces of original gold highlights, aged patina on the silver, blend of fading original blue finish and smooth brown patina on the balance, some light oxidation, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some chipping at the nose of the edges, faint repairs, and general minor scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 1331 Ornate Chiseled and Engraved Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 65 cal., 10 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This pistol is likely from the early 19th century, possibly in the Ottoman Empire. It emulates a French pistol but has more Mediterranean styling overall. The smoothbore barrel has a German silver front sight, sculpted and engraved patterns on the breech, and a raised bump for a rear sight. The lock and furniture also have a mix of relief chiseled and engraved patterns, mainly floral, martial, or somewhat abstract. The side plate is an attractive pierced scrolling pattern with a bestial mask. The lock has “A PARIS” under the pan. CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina, mild oxidation and pitting, and general moderate overall wear. The refinished stock is also good with some cracks, chips, repairs, and dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1332
Ornate Johannes Hofer Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 24 bore cal., 9 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Johannes Hofer was active in Carlsbad, Bohemia, in the early 18th century. This pistol has a two-stage, smoothbore barrel with a blade front sight. The lock is signed “JOHANNES HOFER” and has scroll and border engraving. The furniture is brass and features cast cavalry scenes, scrolls, and martial motifs. The stock has raised relief and incised carving and a narrow wrist and pommel. CONDITION: Good with mottled gray and brown patina on the lock and barrel along with mild oxidation/pitting, aged patina on the brass furniture, some cracks and crude period repairs in the stock around the lock mortise, a replacement upper ramrod pipe, distinct designs on the metal and stock, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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