Page 105 - 89-FLIPBOOK2

LOT 1124
South Carolina Palmetto Armory Model
1842 Percussion Pistol - NSN, 54 cal., 8 1/2
inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock.
Reportedly 1,000 Model 1842 pistols were manufactured at the Palmetto Armory by William Glaze
and Benjamin Flagg. The latter was previously the superintendent of Asa Waters’s factory in Milbury, Massachusetts. They
are believed to have been assembled from condemned and overrun parts from Aston and Johnson
from the U.S. contracts. The barrel has a brass blade front sight, captive ramrod, “P/V/palmetto tree” on
the upper left, “Wm GLAZE & CO.” on the left flat, and “1853” on the upper tang. The lock is marked “PALMETTO,
ARMORY/palmetto tree/S*C.” at the center and “COLUMBIA/S C 1852” at the tail. The furniture is brass. There is an “H” marked inside the trigger guard bow. A folder with photographs of the pistol, two different editions of “William Glaze and the Palmetto Armory” by Jack Allen Meyer, and authentication letters from Damon Mills and Dr. Frederick G. Novy. The latter notes “H2” markings on the breech plug and barrel, a single condemnation mark inside the lock, and indicates the pistol appears to be all original with the exception of the left swivel which he believed to be an old replacement. He also points to the “lazier” markings that aren’t stamped as neatly as on the New England made Model 1842 pistols manufactured for the federal government.
CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray patina and mild pitting on the lock and barrel, attractive aged patina on the brass, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has dark oiled finish, a tension crack at the rear lock screw, and mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1125
Desirable Cased Pair of Engraved and James Walsh, Richmond,
Virginia, Importer Marked English Percussion Dueling Pistols
-A) English Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 8 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/
casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. James Walsh was the successor to
Thomas Tyrer and operated a gun store in the future Confederate capital
of Richmond, Virginia, in the antebellum era, at 60 Main St. and later noted
“7 doors above St. Charles Hotel” and advertised that he imported guns,
other sporting goods, and “gentleman’s goods” from England as well
as Colt revolvers. Dueling had largely faded in American society by this
period, but it had always been more prevalent in the more aristocratic
and honor obsessed American South and continued up through the
Civil War. Many elite Southern gentlemen would have owned a brace of
pistols, but few of their pistols remain today, making Southern dueling
pistols particularly desirable. The smoothbore barrels have fixed blade
front sights, “IMPORTED BY J. WALSH RICHMOND VA.” inscribed on the
top flats, dovetailed small notch rear sights, Birmingham proofs, and
“60” marked on the bottom flats. The locks are signed “J. WALSH.” There is
classic English scroll and border engraving. The pistols are equipped with
adjustable single set triggers. The stocks have horn forend caps, silver wrist
escutcheons, and checkered wrists. The pair comes in a case with a “30”
marked ball mold, pick, powder flask, two cap tins, and several lead balls.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrel has light original brown finish, Damascus twist patterns, gray and brown patina, and minor oxidation.
The lock has strong case colors in the protected area around the hammer and otherwise mottled gray patina. The silver has an attractive
dark aged patina. The trigger guard retains strong original blue finish in the protected areas, and the furniture otherwise displays mostly
smooth gray patina. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering, a couple small spots of insect damage on the horn cap, and minor dings
and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The relined case is very good with minor age and storage related wear. The flask is fair and has an
absent spring and soldered repair. The other accessories are very good with minor wear. B) English Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 8 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with a blend of faded original brown finish and brown patina along the barrel along with distinct Damascus patterns, some minor oxidation, a nice aged patina on the silver, strong applied blue finish on the repaired hammer and the breech, traces of original case colors and blue finish in the protected areas, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, and general mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering, a few small nicks at the edges, and minor scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive pair of southern retailer marked dueling pistols from the antebellum era, when gentlemen were still resolving their affairs of honor at gun point.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
103