Product Details
LE PAGE
A FINE AND RARE PAIR OF CASED 40-BORE PERCUSSION RIFLED BOXLOCK TARGET-PISTOLS, no visible serial numbers,
circa 1850, with browned octagonal 8 3/4in. ratchet-rifled barrels signed in gold on the top-flat 'LE PAGE ARQ.ER DU ROI' within a two-colour gold border and 'ACIER FONDU', dove-tailed blade fore-sights, standing notch rear-sights, the patent squared colour-hardened breech blocks with gold ball and band decoration, breech-ends and the fully engraved top-tangs marked '1' and '2' respectively, platinum plugs (one absent), diminutive boxlock bar-actions with border and scroll engraving, scroll engraved hammers, rounded figured walnut half-stocks with chequered pistol-grip butts, the bases carved with scallop shells forming palm-rests, scallop shell carving to the fore-end tips, scroll engraved spurred trigger-guard bows with rolled edges and silver oval take-down wedge escutcheons, both pistols remaining in a fine state of preservation and appearing little used TOGETHER WITH their original burr walnut veneered storage case (veneer cracked to lid) with brass corners and banding to the edges, the interior compartmented in gold-bordered brown morocco leather in the continental style, the bases of the compartments and the lid interior lined in brown velvet (faded, on compartment lid missing) and containing all the original accessories including a fluted flask, colour-hardened ball-mould, loading and cleaning rods, loading mallet, nipple-key and adjustable powder measure.
Estimate £10,000-15,000