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LOT 1314
Rare Dreyse Needlefire Self-Cocking Revolver - Serial no. 5104, 35 cal., 4 inch
octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Most famous for its use in
the Dreyse rifle, this self-cocking revolver applies the needle-fire
concept on a smaller scale. The cylinder is not completely bored
through for loading from the breech and instead has a small hole in the rear face of each
chamber. Loads from the front with paper cartridges. The needle extends through the hole
puncturing the cartridge and striking an enclosed mercury primer which in turn ignites
the powder charge. Blade and notch sights, “v. DREYSE SOMMERDA.” on the top strap, “Cal:
0,35” on the right of the frame, light coverage factory engraving on side of the frame and trigger
guard, matching serial numbers on the frame, cylinder, bolt housing, and grip, scroll engraving and silver wire inlays, checkered grip, and lanyard ring. Fitted with a contoured one-piece checkered grip with a lanyard ring on the butt.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus original blue finish with some scattered moderate handling marks, scattered minor freckling, a mild cylinder drag line, and crisp markings and edges in the metal. Grip is fine with crisp checkering, a crack running through the left screw, and scattered light scratches and dings. Mechanically needs work, the action cycles although the needle is broken/absent and the sear mechanism does not function properly.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 1315
Factory Engraved and Silver Plated Loron Brevete Double Action Pinfire Revolver - Serial no. 7126, 11 mm cal., 6 5/8 inch octagon bbl., silver finish, antique
ivory grips. Pierre Antoine Loron of Liege patented this design in the
1850s. The revolver has “LORON/BREVETE” on the left at the breech,
high circular front and rear sights, a lever on the left that allows
the barrel and cylinder to slide forward for loading, scroll engraving
with punched backgrounds, Liege proofs, “7126” on the left, “crown/R” marks on multiple components, smooth antique ivory grips, and a lanyard ring on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine with strong original silver plating on the cylinder and hammer exhibiting
aged patina, traces on other components, mostly smooth gray and brown patina on the
balance, some minor pitting, distinct engraving, and mild overall wear. The grips are also fine
and have attractive natural grain and patina, some age cracks at the screw, and mild wear. The revolver functions intermittently in double action and fine in single action.
250 Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1316
Rare Engraved Colleye Patent
Four-Shot Repeating Percussion Pistol - Serial no. 1280,
8.5mm cal., 3 3/4 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. This scarce repeating percussion pistol was almost certainly made
in Belgium and uses a vertical four-shot breech block (resembles a harmonica) built with
countersunk percussion nipples, the block moves upwards as each chamber is fired. An off-set bead front
sight helps with sighting as the breech block moves further upwards and obscures direct view along the top
of the pistol. With octagonal etched Damascus barrel. Bright action engraved with scrollwork and a woven net
pattern, and with blued hammer and blued ring trigger. Bright breech block engraved with rosettes and sprays
of scrollwork. Figured walnut grips each with checkered panel.
CONDITION: Very good. The pistol has a bold Damascus pattern with the etched texture slightly flattened from cleaning. The action has some minor discoloration. The engraving is clear. The hammer retains strong traces of original blue finish, and the ring trigger retains traces. The breech block has some corrosion marking and small patches of light surface corrosion. One percussion nipple is incomplete. There is some handling wear and bruising on the grips. Mechanically functions fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,500
LOT 1317
Unique Engraved
Rowntree Retailed “Pennell Patent” Six-Shot Self-
Cocking “Hammerless” Percussion Revolver - NSN, 54 bore cal., 5
3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut grips.
Incorporating Thomas Pennell’s British Patent no. 1038 of April 29, 1853, this rare British
revolver is believed to be one of around twelve Pennell patent revolvers thought to
survive. The revolver was retailed by Rowntree of Penrith in the northern English county
of Cumbria. With blued octagonal barrel with multi-groove rifling, niter blued blade front sight, engraved with
a band of stylized foliage at the muzzle and scrollwork at the breech end, signed “ROWNTREE. PENRITH” on
the top flat, and with unique hooked rammer mounting and pivoting barrel catch marked “PATENT” on the
front . Plain cylinder and scroll engraved action, the top plate of the action engraved “PATENT” and enclosing
the striker, a sprung stud safety locking the striker and the base of a belt hook at on the left side of the action.
Furniture comprising blued trigger guard and casehardened butt cap, the latter with hinged trap cover. Walnut butt with fine multi-point checkering. Birmingham proof marks. For further reading see A.W.F. Taylerson, R.A.N. Andrews and J. Frith, “The Revolver 1818-1865”, 1968, p. 301.
CONDITION: Fine. The engraving is clear throughout. The barrel retains 60% original blued finish. There are some storage and handling scratches and marks. The rammer hook and belt hook are incomplete. Casehardened finish on the cylinder and action has faded to a mostly brown patina. There are numerous strike marks visible on the top plate of the action. The trigger guard and butt cap have traces of original finish. The checkering is mostly well-defined with some storage and handling marks and bruises. The butt sitting slightly proud of the frame and is chipped on the left side. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 1318
Fine Factory Engraved, Gold Inlaid, and
Relief Carved Double Action Pinfire Revolver - Serial
no. 2426, 9 mm Pinfire cal., 4 5/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/ gold finish,
ebony grips. This 1850s-1870s Liege proofed revolver has a bead style blade
front sight on a triangular base, ejector rod on the right, scroll and floral
engraving, gold inlaid geometric patterns on the frame and cylinder, scroll and floral
relief carving on the grips, and a lanyard loop on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine with 50% original blue finish, bright original gold inlays, crisp
engraving, gray and brown patina, mild oxidation, and mild overall wear. The grips are also fine and have crisp carving, and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,500