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LOT 1288
Beautiful Cased Pair of Engraved and Ebony Stocked Belgian Percussion Target Pistols with Accessories Retailed by C. Mode of Paris -A) Target Pistol
- NSN, 47 cal., 10 inch fluted octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, ebony stock. These pistols were retailed by Celestin Jules Mode (born 1870) in Paris. According to 1923 records for the French Legion of Honor, he was the owner of Lefaucheux and Pirlet & Cie, worked at Societe Francaise des Munitions in 1894 to 1910 and during WWI, and was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1923. The pistols have Liege oval (no crown), “*/Y,” and perron proofs on the barrels near the breech. The “*/Y” is the proof controller’s mark and dates to 1927 at the earliest. They have dovetailed bead style blade front sights, adjustable notch rear sights, “C. MODE, ARMURIER
BTe, PARIS” on top of the barrels, tight scroll engraving, crisp breaking plain triggers, finely checkered ebony stocks, and a French fitted oak case with C. Mode retailer label, small measure, ebony mallet, ebony handled nipple wrench, ebony containers with spare nipples, bright bullet mold, niter blue rear sight key, and ebony ram
and cleaning rods. Most of the firearms with C. Mode markings are more modern cartridge firearms, especially double barrel shotguns.
CONDITION: Excellent with 95% plus of the original blued finish and original
case colors and only minor fading of the blue finish at the edges, especially on
the pommel cap. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering and some slight handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very good with mild storage wear and some separation at the corner joints.
B) Target Pistol - NSN, 47 cal., 10 inch fluted octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, ebony stock. As described in “A.”
CONDITION: Excellent with 95% plus original blue finish and original case colors and some minor flaking on the pommel. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering, a slight imperfection at the tail of the lock, and some faint handling
and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. These pistols are in virtually unfired condition.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000
LOT 1289
Fine Cased Pair of Engraved and Relief Carved N. Vivario-Plomdeur Percussion Dueling Pistols -A) N. Vivario-Plomdeur Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 10 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/grey finish, walnut stock. Nicolas Vivario-Plomdeur of Liege was
a Belgian gunmaker in the 1840s-1870s who patented revolving firearms designs. His business was continued on by his sons. These attractive pistols are typical in style of
the French and Belgian dueling and target pistols of the mid-19th century. The rifled, Damascus barrels have dovetailed post front sights and “N. VIVARIO-PLOMDEUR Coin
du Passage 55 rue Vinavi d ile A LIEGE” Notch rear sights are fitted to the breech plugs. The locks have “N. VIVARIO-PLOMDEUR A LIEGE.” The pistols also feature classic scroll
and border engraving. The triggers are enclosed by spurred trigger guards. The stocks have raised relief carved scroll carving at the forend tips and finely checkered wrists with shaped borders. The pair comes in a fitted hardwood case with olive green lining, mallet, pick, worm/ball puller, oiler, ball mold, combination screwdriver/nipple wrench, spare nipples, punch, brushes, a “PQ, F/PARIS” marked powder flask with deer scene, loading and cleaning rods, balls, and key.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 75% plus of the original brown finish and has distinct Damascus patterns. The nipple has strong original niter blue. The lock and furniture have smooth French gray finish and crisp engraving. There is some isolated minor oxidation and generally light age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp carving and checkering, mild scratches, and handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine and have minor age and storage related wear mainly on the case lining and a minor crack in the knot on the case lid.
B) N. Vivario-Plomdeur Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 10 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 75% plus original brown finish and has distinct Damascus patterns. The lock and furniture have smooth French gray finish. There is some slight oxidation and generally only minor overall wear. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering and carving, some light scratches, and minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent.
280 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500