OVER AND UNDER TAP ACTION PISTOL BY BASS OF LONDON

A GOOD FLINTLOCK BOXLOCK OVER AND UNDER TAP ACTION PISTOL BY BASS OF LONDON

Circa 1790, this is a good quality 40 bore flintlock boxlock action over and under pistol by John BASS of London.   8 1/2" overall with 2  7/ keyed turn off barrels. Rectangular pan with working tap action lever.  Border engraved frame with London Proofs, engraved stand of arms to each side with BASS on left side and LONDON on right side. Floral engraving to triggerguard. Sliding safety. Sprung border engraved frizzen. Border engraved ring neck cock and top jaw. Good working action. Figured slab sided butt with vacant silver shield escutcheon. Some minor handling marks to stock. Overall good condition.

John BASS, born Grantham, Lincs 1761. In partnership with uncle, John Fox Twigg, as Twigg & Bass, 1788-90: on his own Carrington St, Piccadilly, 1790: 19 Green Park Row, Piccadilly, 1793-94. Died 1794. Widow Sarah closed business 1795. (Gunmakers of London, 1350-1850, Howard Blackmore.)

A GOOD 25 BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOL BY JOHN MANTON OF LONDON

A good flintlock duelling pistol by John Manton of London with 25 Bore 9.5" barrel, circa 1810. Re-browned large bore octagonal sighted twist barrel (smoothbore) signed 'MANTON - LONDON' in gold capitals, two gold breech lines on inset breech, platinum lined vent, breech tang engraved with a sunburst together with foliage and stand of arms, original lock with raised waterproof pan with Manton signed lock with further foliage and stand of arms engraving and wheat ear lined border, matching wheat ear bevelled border to Swan neck flintcock, matching wheat ear engraving to frizzen, cam type frizzen spring. Blued trigger guard and butt cap with stand of arms engraving to guard and fine acorn finial. Superbly engraved mounts. Horn tipped ramrod. Nicely figured walnut stock, characteristic chequered butt, half stocked with horn fore end and silver barrel bolt escutcheon. Vacant silver escutcheon to shoulder of stock. 15in (38 cm) overall length. No serial number present and no barrel proofs - neither of which is unusual for a Manton pistol as we have encountered many over the years not numbered or with proof marks. A classic duelling pistol by one of the best makers.

Good re-browned barrel with minor pitting and near 100% gold inlay. Fine condition furniture with crisp engraving and near 100% blue. Excellent original working lock except for possible old replacement top jaw, screw and frizzen spring. Walnut stock has normal age related handling marks and has an old repaired split near barrel bolt and fore end. Overall very good condition.

The price includes UK delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.

AN EXCELLENT QUALITY FLINTLOCK RIFLED OFFICERS PISTOL C.1790 BY ANTOINE DUMAREST IN THE STYLE OF BOUTET 

An excellent French Flintlock Officers or Holster Pistol, signed 'Antoine Dumarest’, circa 1790. With .69 large bore (same as Charleville musket) 7.25" multi groove rifled Damascus hexagonal swamped barrel with bead foresight and notched rear sight. Barrel is cleaned bright but shows remains of original Damascus finish, superbly executed rifling is very strong and bright indicating little use. Flat lockplate is finely engraved and signed Antione Dumarest with all original lock - flintcock shoulder has been repaired at some stage, border engraved roller frizzen, strong action. All iron mounts consisting of finely engraved tang, buttplate, trigger guard, ramrod pipes, barrel wedge and sideplates. Light Walnut stock in excellent condition showing signs of old refinish with crisp original chequering, vacant silver escutcheon to rear of sideplate. Overall length 13.5".

This pistol has quality mounts which are nearly identical to many examples of early pistols by Nicolas Noel Boutet 1761-1833. Heer Der Neue Stockel only records one Antoine Dumarest  in St. Etienne from 1728-1783. This is probably the father of the gunmaker of this pistol - they are often confused. More accurately, "Le Qui et Qui de l'arme en France de 1350 a 1970" by Jean-Jacques Buigne records the same older Antoine and another Antoine Dumarest born 20 January 1763, died 27 February 1828, who was a Damasquineur. Dumarest was a famous gunmaking family from St. Etienne and the similar period life span of Antoine and Nicolas Boutet has obviously led to very similar styles of pistols in that period. Like all gunmakers, Antoine Dumarest made pistols in varying quality according to price. This is the best I have seen from this maker. 

The price includes UK delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.

A FRENCH CHARLEVILLE SEA SERVICE REGULATION FLINTLOCK PISTOL MODEL 1763 

A rare Charleville French Sea Service variant of the Model 1763 Flintlock pistol. Distinguished from the M1763 Cavalry pistol as the navy variant has all brass furniture as opposed to the iron furniture of the cavalry variant. Otherwise they are nearly identical. 16.25" long with 9" barrel in same .69 calibre as the Charleville musket. All original regulation brass furniture, original lock signed "Manufacture de Charleville". Wonderful patina with all original screws and very good stock with some handling marks. This one came from a collection where it was noted as being passed down as taken as a prize from a French ship captured at Trafalgar. There was a note to that effect curled in the barrel but paper has disintegrated since being taken out and unfurled. 

See "French Military Weapons 1717-1938" by Major James F Hicks, page 80, illustration page 85, lock illustration page 40. 

The price includes UK delivery.  No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.

AN EARLY DATED 1786 REGULATION LIGHT DRAGOON FLINTLOCK PISTOL   

An early dated 1786 Regulation Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol. 15½" overall, 16 bore 9" round barrel with regulation proof marks, border engraved flat lockplate signed Crown over GR, border engraved cock, regulation furniture including lobed butt cap, brass trigger guard, side plate and ramrod pipe. Original ramrod. Stock with marking of Crown over entwined GR and 1786. Also stock makers mark of BW to side plate and an inspectors crown mark near trigger guard. Pan is slightly pitted otherwise very good original metalwork. Excellent lock. Stock has normal handling marks but all original. Period holster in very good unrestored worn condition.  

We sold an identical item a few years ago except stock makers mark was IW and there was an old fore end repair - see previously sold items.

The price includes UK delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.