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LOT 1432
Exceptional Cased James Woodward Double Barrel Percussion “Howdah” Pistol - NSN, 14 bore cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1875 with smoothbore, browned, “Damascus” barrels with a bead front sight and “JAMES WOODWARD, ST. JAMES’S ST. LONDON” on the concave rib, casehardened patent breeches with platinum plugs, swivel mounted captive ramrod, casehardened locks marked “JAMES WOODWARD” and equipped with sliding safeties, pineapple finial on the trigger plate, blued trigger guard, casehardened pommel cap with small compartment, scroll and floral engraving, plain silver wedge escutcheons and wrist escutcheon, and checkered wrist. It comes in a lined and fitted mahogany case with a large James Woodward & Sons trade label inside the lid noting them as breech loading gun and rifle manufacturers at 64 St. James’s Street, “James Dalziel” inscribed on the handle escutcheon, a leather bound Dixon & Sons powder flask, 16 bore ball mold, wrench, screwdriver, cleaning rod, oiler, turned bone container, cap tin, several balls, some wads and patches, and
a 14 bore punch. There was a James Dalziel Sr. and Jr. active as masons and builder in Glasgow, Scotland, in the period. There was also a James Dalziel who died in a boating accident off New Zealand in 1878.
CONDITION: Excellent, it retains 95% plus of the original brown, casehardened, and blue finishes and exhibits only the faintest handling and storage wear. The silver has an attractive aged patina. The stock is also excellent and has crisp checkering and light marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine and have mild age and storage related wear, including some staining and contact wear on the label.
Provenance: The J.C.L. Knapton Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 8,000 - 10,000
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