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LOT 237
Extremely Fine Engraved Documented Pair of John Dickson &
Son Single Barrel Percussion Traveling Pistols with Original Case, Accessories and Leather Outer Made for the Famed Scottish Eccentric Charles Gordon -A) Dickson Percussion Pistol - Serial no. 4276, 54 cal., 4 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, checkered walnut stock. These extraordinarily fine pistols are published by Donald Dallas in “Charles Gordon, Magnificent Madness,” listed on p. 33 and extensively described and illustrated pp. 52-54. Dallas notes that although the actual page is missing from the Dickson records, from surrounding extant pages it can be surmised that these pistols were ordered in June 1889. The case
is far larger than usual for a pair of percussion traveling pistols in order to house the numerous accessories, many doubled up, which Gordon ordered with his guns. The browned octagonal barrels are signed “JOHN DICKSON
& SON, 63 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH” along the top flats and have
small silver bead front sights. The casehardened recessed patent breeches are inlaid with platinum plugs engraved with rosettes. The casehardened standing breeches are numbered “1” and “2,” and the casehardened back action locks are signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON.” The furniture comprises blued trigger guards and casehardened butt caps, trigger plates, ramrod pipes and barrel key escutcheons. The barrel keys are blued. There is fine border and scroll engraving throughout. The figured walnut full-length stocks have checkered butts, blank silver oval initial escutcheons at the wrists and dark horn forearm caps. The original brass mounted wooden ramrods have covered worms. The pistols have London proof marks for 30 bore. They come in an original brass cornered oak close fitted case lined in
green baize with accessories comprising a brass and blued steel ball mold, two brass mounted cleaning rods each with covered worm, two ebony patch pots, a casehardened mainspring clamp, two Hawksley pewter oilers, two extra ramrods each with worm, two percussion pillar pots respectively numbered “1” and “2”, two Hawksley turnscrews and a percussion pillar wrench each with dark horn handle, two wad cutters and two Hawksley brass mounted Moroccan leather wrapped powder flasks. The case also
has a lift-out compartment with sliding lid. The leather outer is branded “CHARLES GORDON ESQ.”
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The barrel retains 99% refinished browned finish and a crisp signature. The breech, standing breech, lock, trigger plate, butt cap and ramrod pipes each retain 99% original casehardened finish. The trigger guard has nearly 100% of the original deep blued
finish. The engraving is wonderfully detailed and crisp throughout. The stock has attractive figure, crisp checkering to the butt, and scattered occasional minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The accessories are excellent and generally as good as the day they were made aside from some minor age related discoloration on the Moroccan leather wrapping on the flasks. The case is very good and shows some minor external storage and handling wear. The lid lining is tacked in place and appears to be the same material as the partition lining, so it could well be the original lid lining that became detached with age. The leather outer has age related wear and staining, exterior straps replaced, one strap loop detached, and
a clear name. B) Dickson Percussion Pistol - Serial no. 4277, 54 cal., 4 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, checkered walnut stock. See “A”.
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The barrel retains 99% refinished browned finish and a crisp signature and has a light surface scratch. The breech, standing breech, lock, trigger plate, butt cap and ramrod pipes each retain 99% original casehardened finish. The trigger guard has nearly 100% of the original deep blued finish. The tips of the blued barrel key are chipped. The engraving is wonderfully detailed and crisp throughout. The stock has attractive figure, crisp checkering to the butt, and scattered occasional minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. These pistols and their accessories are in stunning unmolested condition. The visual impact on opening the case cannot be far removed from what Gordon saw the first time he opened the case over 130 years ago.
Provenance: The Charles Gordon Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK CHARLES GORDON: MAGNIFICENT MADNESS BY DALLAS
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