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LOT 1215
Fine, Rare and Incredibly Historic Pair of
Gold and Silver Accented American Flintlock
Dueling Pistols by B. & J. Cooper of New York
with Case Inscribed to Dutch West Indies Plantation
Owner Robert Neilson of Saint Croix -A) B. & J. Cooper
Dueling Pistol - NSN, 62 cal., 9 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/
casehardened/blue/gold finish, walnut stock. These pistols are
very much English in styling and no doubt in part use imported
English components but were built in New York by evidently English
trained gunmakers. They feature “B & J COOPER/NEW YORK” on the gold makers’
marks on the breeches, “B&J.C” on the underside of the barrels rather than English
proofs, and “B & J COOPER” on the gold makers’ marks on the locks. Benjamin and Joseph Cooper were located at No. 19 Partition Street in New York City c. 1805 when they advertised “To SPORTSMEN” that they offered firearms of “workmanship to be warranted equal to the
best London Manufacture” as well as “Mahogany cases for guns or pistols...” and by 1813 were listing their “Military Store” as at No. 4 Maiden Lane. They were both gunmakers and importers. They remained active after the War of 1812 until c. 1831, and Joseph Cooper remained active
c. 1831-1858 and lived at 233 Broadway. The smoothbore barrels have dovetailed silver blade front sights, “D-C 1270” and “D-C 1271” Irish registration marks from Dublin Castle c. 1843-1846, and patent breeches with gold lined vents, gold bands, and the noted gold maker’s marks.
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