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LOT 247
Exceptional Cased Pair of Parisian Percussion Dueling Pistols by Pirmet -A) Pirmet Dueling Pistol - Serial
no. 7786, 54 cal., 8 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Monsieur Pirmet, active on the Allee d’Antin in the 1830s-1850s, received a silver medal at the Exhibition of Products of French Industry in 1839 for fine hunting arms and may have been a son or other relative of Francois Pirmet (active c. 1779-1818), gunmaker to Jerome Bonaparte and King Louis XVIII. The pistols have “microgroove” rifled Damascus barrels with dovetailed silver blade front sights, and casehardened patent breeches. The locks have “PIRMET A PARIS” in gold inlay. The adjustable single set triggers are enclosed by spurred trigger guards. The locks and furniture are casehardened and have scroll and floral engraving. The stocks are nicely shaped and have checkered wrists and flared pommels with contrasting ebony. The pair comes in a fitted case with a suite of accessories, including a casehardened ladle, wood mallet, casehardened ball mold, combination screwdriver and nipple wrench, casehardened mainspring vice, powder flask, and loading and cleaning rods with attachments. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 95% plus original casehardened finish on the lock, 70% Damascus pattern visible and some minor oxidation staining on the balance of the barrel, crisp engraving, bright gold
inlay, and minimal age and storage related wear. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, minor marks and scratches, and minor chips and cracks in the ebony at the pommel. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has some chips on the exterior and moderate age and storage related wear on the lining. The flask is fine but has a dent on one side. The other accessories are mostly very fine with minimal age and storage related wear and nearly all of the casehardened finish. B) Pirmet Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 7786, 54 cal., 8 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 90% plus of the original casehardened finish on the lock, distinct patterns and 60% original finish on the barrel along with some oxidation staining, and generally minor overall wear from handling and storage. The stock is also very fine and has crisp
checkering, slight cracks at the left flat and toe, and a few slight dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 248
Fine Cased Pair of Duchamp Percussion Officer’s Pistols -A) Duchamp Officer’s Pistol - NSN, 20 bore cal., 8 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Duchamp was a French gunmaker in Lyon in the early 19th century. The pistols have rifled barrels with dovetailed silver blade front sights, French proofs and “24” on the left, “-CN A RUBAN-” (upper left, “ribbon barrel” aka pattern welded) and “-FER DE FAULX-” (upper right, “fake iron”) in silver inlay, “FERDEFAUX” (“fake iron”) stamped on the lower left flats, “MERLEY/LONDON” (barrel maker) along with a dolphin and “F/.” on the lower right flats, and sighting grooves at the breeches that extend across the breech plugs and onto the standing breeches, notch rear sights on the standing breeches, “DUCHAMP ARQER/-A LYON-” in silver inlay on the locks, floral engraving on the screws and around the screw holes, adjustable single set triggers, spurred trigger guards, and half-length stocks with raised relief carved lion masks at the forend tips, checkered wrists, and flared pommels. The pair comes in a leather bound case with bright red lining and a suite of accessories. CONDITION: Fine with 50% original brown finish, distinct twist paterns along the barrel, 60% original case colors, patches of mild oxidation/pitting, attractive aged patina on the silver inlaid markings, and general minor age and storage wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp relief carving and checkering, numerous light scratches and dings, and attractive figure and grain. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine and have minor storage wear. B) Duchamp Officer’s Pistol - NSN, 20 cal., 8 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus original brown and casehardened finish, distinct twist patterns along the barrel, patches of mild oxidation/pitting, attractive aged patina on the silver inlaid markings, and general minor age and storage wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp relief carving and checkering, light scratches and dings, and attractive figure and grain. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
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