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LOT 1097
NRA Award Winning Cased Pair
of Engraved American Percussion Dueling Pistols from Robertson of Philadelphia -A) Robertson Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 8 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/ blue/German silver finish, walnut stock. This pair
of pistols
received NRA
Certificate of
Recognition
number 200
at the NRA’s
190th Annual
Meeting in
Kansas City
in 1980 and
were listed as
a “Pair of Kunz-Robertson, Philadelphia Dueling Pistols” owned by Lt. Col. William R. Orbelo. Many dueling pistols used in the U.S. in the 19th century were imports from England, and pairs by American makers are rare and desirable. The heated political battles of the antebellum era certainly lead to a fair number of “affairs of honor” that were settled with pistols, especially in the South despite social and political pressures to end the practice. William Robertson was active in Philadelphia from around 1829 until around 1861 based on his listings in Philadelphia directories. The shop on gunmaker’s row at 131 Walnut Street was taken over by Abraham Peterman. The shop can be seen next to John Krider’s famous gun shop at the corner of Walnut and 2nd Street taken around 1869, which shows both Robertson’s sign on the building and Peterman’s sign at street level. A partnership or other relationship between Robertson
and Jacob Kuntz (Kunz, 1780-1876) is not clear. The pistols have smoothbore, Damascus barrels with .50 caliber bores that open up
to around .52-.54 caliber at the muzzles, dovetailed German silver blade front sights, “ROBERTSON” marked on the top flats, no proof
marks (American made), and nicely shaped breech plugs. The standing breeches incorporate fences, fixed notch rear sights, and scroll
and floral engraving. The back action locks have floral and scroll engraving as do the spurred trigger guards which enclose adjustable
single set triggers. The forend caps, wedge escutcheons, and wrist escutcheons are German silver. The figured walnut stocks have
narrow wrists with checkering and point very naturally. The pair comes in a fitted hardwood case with three cap tins, a ball mold, a
three compartment flask, oiler, nipple wrench, screwdriver, cleaning rod, balls and bullets, and a key.
CONDITION: Very good with light original brown finish and distinct twist patterns on the barrel, dark gray patina on the casehardened
components, light aged patina on the German silver, traces of original blue on the furniture, minor oxidation, and general mild overall wear from age and storage. The stock is also very good and has mostly distinct checkering, minor flakes at the edges, a hairline crack on the left at the breech, light dings and scratches, and nice flame figure. Mechanically excellent. The case lid has several cracks and is missing the escutcheon, but the case interior and the accessories are very good and have some age and storage related wear. B) Robertson Dueling Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 8 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/German silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with light original brown finish and distinct twist patterns along the barrel, gray patina on the remaining iron, traces of original blue, light aged patina on the German silver, and general minor overall wear. The stock is also very good and has distinct checkering, some nice figure, glossy finish, and numerous light handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. This is a very desirable and attractive cased pair of American dueling pistols from the antebellum era during which heated social and political issues famously came to a head at times on the field of honor.
Provenance: Lt. Col. William R. Orbelo; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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