CASED WESTLEY RICHARDS 100 BORE POCKET PISTOLS £2,950.00

A CASED PAIR OF 100 BORE PERCUSSION BOXLOCK POCKET PISTOLS BY WESTLEY RICHARDS

A very good cased pair of small Percussion Boxlock Pocket pistols by Westley Richards of London. 100 bore and only 5" long overall with 1.5" octagonal screw off barrels with engraved band to muzzle. Birmingham Proofs with frames and barrels marked 1 and 2 respectively. Finely engraved actions signed WESTLEY RICHARDS on left side and LONDON to right side with Dolphin engraved hammers, sliding safety and hidden folding triggers. Rounded chequered butts with vacant oval silver escutcheons. Silver spurred buttcaps finely engraved with cloudburst. Contained in their original antique green velvet lined mahogany case, complete with accessories including fitted barrel key removal tool, lead bullets, patches, percussion caps and in a lidded compartment with a bullet mould, flask (spring AF), cleaning rod and cap box. A crisp pair of very small pocket pistols by a quality maker. 

A sign of originality and condition with these cased pocket pistols is that the lead bullets fit snugly (as intended) in the breech when barrel removed and allow the barrel to be screwed back on without the bullet impeding the process.  Then try to fit the same bullet in the muzzle end without removing the barrel and it will be fractionally too large. This is a good sign as bullet is a tight fit within barrel and is only expelled when there is a powder charge behind it otherwise the bullet may simply roll out of barrel! Basic but surprising how many pocket pistols fail this test. This pair does not fail. 

See the current Westley Richards website for history of the company and photographs of a similar larger pair of pocket pistols.

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 1844 ENFIELD PERCUSSION CAVALRY PISTOL 

This pistol is unusual and interesting as it is the 1853 EIC Pattern Percussion Cavalry Pistol but fitted with an ENFIELD marked lock dated 1844. This may have been an experimental fitting as the lock is marked with the Crown over V.R. to the rear of the lock similar to the subsequent Enfield pistol pattern 1856 lock as opposed to the 1844 Enfield lock fitted to the 1844 Cavalry Carbine which had the Crown over VR marking under the bolster, thus probably  eliminating a retrofitted Enfield lock to this particular pistol. Apart from the lock, this is a typical EIC 1853 Pattern .65 pistol with 9” barrel stamped with London proofs. Brass mounted full walnut stock, lanyard ring to butt and swivel rammer hinged to muzzle. Sidecups for lock screws as opposed to the sideplate of earlier models.

As the Pattern 1853 was an upgrade of the earlier Pattern 1840 with the New Series lock, the fitting of an 1844 Enfield lock with these markings is unusual to say the least. An interesting pistol worthy of further research, condition is uncleaned and original.

FRENCH MODEL 1822 PERCUSSION SERVICE PISTOL MADE AT THE MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE MUTZIG

This 1822 Percussion Service Pistol was a conversion from flintlock to percussion by the Mutzig factory in the French town of Mutzig, located in the Château des Rohan (The Castle of Rohan). This 13th century castle became a small arms factory after the French Revolution. In 1799, it was bought by the arms manufacturers, brothers Coulaux of Klingenthal, Bas-Rhin, who, on April 20 1801, opened their weapons factory within its walls. The .69 musket bore barrel is  7.9" long with various markings. Lock is marked 'Mre. Rle. de Mutzig'. With regulation brass mounts with inspectors marks.There are numerous stamps on the left side including MUTZIG and inventory number 1125 which is replicated on the buttstrap and barrel. Overall length 14.5".

Untouched condition. Cleaning will reveal more markings. Stock is good with handling marks but no repairs or splits. Cup top ramrod is missing but replacements are not hard to find.

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.