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LOT 281
Exceptional Documented Pair of Joseph Heylin Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss Pistols -A) Heylin Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 20 bore cal., 7 3/4 inch
part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This beautiful pair of pistols from c. 1770s-1780s around the time of the American Revolution were featured on the cover
of “American Rifleman” in November 1961. Another almost identical pair is featured in “Georgian Pistols” by Norman Dixon on page 46. Dixon notes, “the quality is superb... pistols of great character made for use either by a naval officer or in a gentleman’s traveling coach.”They certainly could have also been used by a mounted officer as pistols of this style are often associated with the dragoons. He also notes that “Joseph Heylin of Cornhill can be regarded as having been one of the top class London makers of his day, producing pistols of quality in the true Anglicized version of the classic Louis XIV style.”The pair shown by Dixon differs in only some very minor details such as the engraving on the tail of the locks. The brass/bronze barrels flare out to nearly 1 inch at the muzzles and taper down to approximately 20 bore for most of their length. They have girdles at the transition points, floral patterns, Tower private proofs, beaded and banded borders at the breech ends, sight grooves that extend onto the engraved iron tangs, and “HEYLIN-CORNHILL-LONDON” signed on top of the breech sections. The
locks are signed “HEYLIN” and have border, floral, and scroll engraving as well as sliding safeties, and graceful swan-neck cocks. The triggers are nicely shaped with curled tips and scroll accents. The furniture is brass/bronze and features classical martial trophy designs, floral engraving, and grotesque mask pommel studs. The full-length stocks have raised shell carving between the barrel tangs and wrist escutcheons and nicely shaped drop flats. The ramrods have horn tips and iron worms.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall with attractive aged patina on barrel and furniture, gray patina on the lock, distinct markings and engraving, crisp carving on the excellent stock, and mostly light handling and storage type marks. Mechanically excellent. B) Heylin Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 20 bore cal., 7 3/4 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall with attractive aged patina on barrel and furniture, flash darkening around the vent, gray patina on the lock, distinct markings and engraving, crisp carving on the excellent stock, a small piece of fabric stuck to the stock on the left at the tip, and mostly light handling and storage type marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Ralph Arnold Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 18,000
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