RARE HISTORIC SCOTTISH PISTOLS
A VERY RARE PAIR OF SILVER SCOTTISH FLINTLOCK PISTOLS FROM 1822 ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUNDER OF THE LONACH HIGHLAND GAMES
Scottish Highland Games, as we know them, only came into being in the early 19th Century. They existed before then on a much more limited basis but the ‘modern’ Highland Games and associated events were part of the successful effort, started in 1822, to create a new image of Scotland romanticising the Gaelic way of life and restoring pride in the Scottish nation without compromising the union. This revival was greatly accelerated in 1822 by the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh, carefully orchestrated by the novelist Sir Walter Scott, which was full of pageantry, a carefully costumed event with the newly created Clan Tartans and many ceremonial events which are still followed, with surprisingly few alterations, in state visits to Scotland by the current Sovereign.
The oldest of these recreated Highland Games is the Lonach Gathering started in 1823, so 2023 marks the 200th Anniversary of their creation, held on the fourth Saturday of August each year. https://www.lonach.org
This pair of pistols are historically important as, by tradition, they were the 21st birthday present for John Forbes. Given to him by his father Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie (1773-1849) who arranged the first Lonach gathering and games in 1823 to extend the goodwill shown by the community on the 21st birthday of his son, John on 15th December 1822.
These heavy nickel silver flintlock pistols are 10.7 inches overall with 6 inch barrels of 32 bore. The foliate engraved barrels are 4 stage, fluted at the breach then round with barrel bands between the stages finally leading to an engraved flared octagonal muzzle section. The locks are unsigned, often found in presentation pistols so that the owners name is the only name on the pistols. The locks have border and foliate engraved swan neck stepped flintcocks. Flat lockplates with matching engraving and a cloudburst forward of the cock. Sprung frizzens are line engraved. The button triggers are engraved with a star underneath to match the prickers which are screwed into the butt between the traditional highland Rams Horn scrolls (also known as Scroll Butt). Strong flintlock action with the normal highland pistol visible sears holding the flintcock when cocked. The engraved frame extensively engraved with matching foliate engraving and thistles with angled flat panels to stock forend engraved with geometric diamond and line engraving and Gaelic patterns. The pierced belt hooks are blued. Ramrods are of typical highland pistol form. The flat sides to the stock are engraved with a thistle and foliate wreath around which are engraved on left hand side with JOHN FORBES YOUNGER OF and finished on right hand side with NEWE AND EDINGLASSIE.
Condition of these pistols is excellent and all original. A very rare pair of historic pistols.
John Forbes Biography from ‘History of Parliament’
http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/forbes-john-1801-1840
Price: £25,000.00
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REMINGTON REVOLVING PERCUSSION RIFLE
A VERY RARE ORIGINAL .44 CALIBRE REMINGTON REVOLVING PERCUSSION RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER 69
A very rare and fine original Remington Revolving Percussion Rifle. This rifle has the rare 18 inch octagonal rifled barrel of .44 calibre with a 6 shot cylinder. Crisp edges to barrel with excellent clear barrel address. Serial number 69 stamped on bottom flat under the barrel towards the breach. Serial number also stamped on the top of the loading lever. Serial numbers were also stamped elsewhere out of sight but rifle has not been stripped.
Very nice overall patina with strong traces of factory finish. Action is excellent. Indexing of the cylinder is also excellent. Mint polished bore. The nicely figured American Walnut stock has virtually no shrinkage and minimal handling marks. Overall length 35.5".
Aesthetically, this is a beautifully balanced rifle with this length of barrel. It is therefore not a surprise that this exact configuration was used by Uberti for their reproduction Remington Revolving Carbine which also has the 18" barrel and other unique features of the 18" barrel rifle. However, it must be emphasised that this rifle offered is a period piece.
Price: £7,950.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 530D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
Additional information.
We are indebted to Mike Strietbeck of the Remington Society of America for the following precis of his research into these rifles;-
“The Remington Revolving Rifle, based on the design and patents of the New Model Army and Navy Revolvers was introduced in the fall of 1865 when it was advertised in the Herkimer New York newspaper as a "deer and turkey hunting rifle." The last known advertisement for this rifle was in 1879. After approximately 10 years of research on this rifle, I have concluded that less than 800 examples were produced, and these included .36 C/B, .44 C/B, .38 Rimfire, and .46 Rimfire. It is believed that other caliber conversions were gunsmith modifications made in the field. Two barrel varieties, a full octagon and a part round part octagon, were supplied. Many variations of front and rear sights, both iron and brass hardware, plain and nickel plated, two different styles of buttplates, three different styles of trigger guards, and at least three different grades of rifles indicate to me that these were not manufactured enmass but rather on an "as ordered" basis. The most rare variety of this rifle include the .46 Rimfire conversion (4 known) and the engraved model (1 known). With less than 800 manufactured, and less than 10% reported as surviving, these rifles are in short supply and continue to appreciate in value every year.”
An excellent full article by Mike Strietbeck appears in the Remington Society of America journal from 2007 - https://www.remingtonsociety.org/a-study-of-remington-revolving-rifles/
As a result of his extensive research, only three of the 18" barrel type were found to be surviving (although there maybe a few more hidden away somewhere!) The three known are serial numbers 10, 34 and this one 69. All three have several distinct differences from all other Remington Revolving Rifles surveyed by Mike Strietback over the years. These differences include;
A. 18" Barrel Vs 24" to 30" as advertised and surveyed.
B. Atypical front and rear sights.
C. Slightly different stock shape. (cupped cutout at junction with the receiver is different in shape)
D. Slightly different butt plate. (upper tip of butt plate is squared off rather than coming to a point)
E. Different trigger guard.(scroll portion unscrews from the trigger guard base rather than being a single forged piece) a "One Screw Trigger Guard".
F. Rifle serial number 34 is silver plated, barrel, cylinder, frame, etc., and is chambered in .45 Government, 6 shot.
It is not known why these 18" barrel versions differ from the longer barrel versions but research is ongoing. They are very rare.
FINE SILVER DUCK'S FOOT PISTOL
A FINE AND RARE HALLMARKED SILVER MINIATURE DUCK’S FOOT FLINTLOCK PISTOL SIGNED TWIGG
This superb miniature Duck’s Foot pistol was made by renowned English miniaturist Peter Dyson in 1990. A piece of Gentleman’s jewellery. It is only 3.2" long. There are four .75" long detachable barrels of hallmarked solid silver with engraved line to muzzles and barrels numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 with corresponding numbers on the hallmarked silver frame which is border engraved with a stand of arms to each side, signed TWIGG on left side and LONDON on right side within a banner. Working boxlock action with engraved blued flintcock and border engraved sprung frizzen. Silver wire inlaid slab sided walnut stock. Hallmarks to triggerguard, top of action, each barrel and the main one under frame which has makers mark of PD for Peter Dyson, the Tudor rose denoting origin mark of Sheffield, a Lion Passant for the Silver Standard and the date letter of 1990. An exquisite miniature.
Price: £2,950.00
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The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
FINE CASED PAIR OF MANTON DUELLING PISTOLS
A FINE CASED PAIR OF CAPLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY JOHN MANTON & SON CIRCA 1828
In original caplock, this fine pair of pistols were made in 1828 and are recorded in W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, "The Manton Supplement" on page 74 and also in "Great British Gunmakers - The Mantons - 1782-1878" by D.H.L. Back on page 56. Browned heavy octagonal Damascus twist barrels of 40 bore with silver blade front sights and near mint bore which has rare fine multigroove rifling. Barrels signed "JOHN MANTON & SON DOVER STREET" on top flat. Superbly engraved case hardened patent breeches with pierced platinum vent plugs engraved with rosettes. Finely engraved case hardened tangs incorporating notched rear sights. Case hardened detented locks signed "JNo. MANTON & SON PATENT" with blued safety catches, bevelled edged dolphin hammers all finely engraved with scrollwork and winged serpents. Finely engraved blued furniture comprising trigger plates, trigger guards, buttcap/pommels and ramrod entry pipe. Triggerguards with serial number 10131 within an oval. Silver oval barrel key escutcheons with blued barrel bolts. Figured walnut half length stocks with chequered butts, rectangular silver escutcheons (blank) and horn fore-end caps. Brass tipped Redwood ramrods which we have seen before on original Mantons of this period.
In their original mahogany fitted case lined in original dark blue baize (some minor losses around edge of lid otherwise excellent), the lid with the original John Manton & Son trade label with the No. 6 Dover Street address as used between 1824-1844, see plate 188 on page 62 of "British Gunmakers - Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment, 1760-1860" by W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back. Cased accessories including excellent red leather three way brass powder flask, combined cleaning rod/loading mallet incorporating captive worm inside rammer, iron pincer bullet mold numbered "1 / 10.157", and an original working key. Bone lidded compartments and bone exterior key escutcheon (not elephant ivory as no Schreger lines). Exterior of the case with blank circular brass escutcheon and flush fitting brass carrying handle, typical Manton front hooks.
Wood to metal fit is excellent all round with sharp profiles and no shrinkage, some minor handling marks to stocks. A superb quality set of pistols by one of the best London makers.
Original Price £16,950.00 now REDUCED to £13,560.00 * RESERVED *
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 525D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
RARE AIR GUN BY DURS EGG CIRCA 1790
A RARE 40-BORE AIR GUN BY DURS EGG OF LONDON, CIRCA 1790
Air Guns of this period are normally associated with specialist makers such as Edward Bate so it is rare to find an example made by one of the greatest gunmakers of the period, Durs Egg. This superb piece of engineering has a smoothbore 33 3/4" two-stage sighted 40 bore barrel with silver blade fore sight and adjustable notched blued rear sight, octagonal breech with gold line - the top flat signed D EGG LONDON. Stepped bevelled edged lock signed D Egg in script (early style) with engraved cocking lever of flintlock style deliberately without the top jaw. Lockplate engraved with dog looking rearwards at two birds on the wing. Some minor pitting to lockplate and rebrowned barrel.
Figured Walnut half-stock carved in relief with a scallop shell behind the barrel tang (another indicator of early Egg style), butt with incorporated carved cheek-piece and chequered wrist, silver fore-end cap, silver barrel bolt escutcheons. Original iron ramrod. Border line engraved blued iron mounts also engraved with scrolls and foliage in very good condition. Complete with spherical copper reservoir with knurled medial band and threaded brass mount (probably the original). Mechanism not tested but mainspring is strong. Overall length 49 3/8".
To discharge the weapon using the cocking lever, the ball reservoir is pumped with sufficient air pressure which, from experience of users, needs to be pumped up to 2,000 times to enable around a dozen shots without re-pressurizing, amazing and ingeniously engineered air gun for its time.
For a similar air gun by the specialist maker Bate with iron mounts and some damages including stock bruising, fore end chipped and cracked - Christies London, Sale 6542, FINE ANTIQUE FIREARMS FROM THE W KEITH NEAL COLLECTION, 25 October 2001, Lot 26 - A 120-Bore 'Flintlock' Sporting Air Rifle by Edward Bate London Circa 1770. (Price realised: £5,640)
Original Price £5,950.00 now REDUCED to £4,760.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 526D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
BOUTET DOUBLE FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN CIRCA 1800
A RARE 20 BORE FLINTLOCK DOUBLE BARREL SPORTING GUN BY NICOLAS-NOEL BOUTET CIRCA 1800
It has become difficult to find original flintlock examples of sporting guns by Boutet as many of his more ‘restrained’ works were converted to percussion. This 20 bore double barrel original flintlock has smooth bore 33.5" rust blued barrels with central concave rib engraved ‘Boutet Directeur Artiste Manufacture a Versailles’. Marks of ‘Manu’ and ‘V lles’ engraved under the breech, muzzle with notch under for ramrod retention, blade fore sight within typical Boutet circle/dot engraving. Makers poincon stamps to breech, replicated on each barrel, “LC” for barrel-maker Jean Nicolas Le Clerc (Neue Støckel 3741), Boutet in rectangular poincon (Neue Støckel 96 used 1805-1814?) and indistinct NB mark. Further matching engraved lines of circles to breech. Platinum touch holes. Ramrod made from Baleen, probably original, with captive worm which unscrews and then screws back onto ramrod in capture position. Single barrel wedge.
All iron mounts comprising buttplate, scrolled triggerguard and ramrod pipes Including multi faceted front pipe - all with superb engraving including screw heads - see photos.
Bevel edged, border line engraved locks curved at tail (a lovely sign of quality) both with internal oval mark of DB within a wreath/fronds - the mark of Daniel Bouyssavy, Director of Manufacture (Inspector) at Versailles between 1795 and 1808 (Boutet was the Technical Director). Bouyssavy was detached from Versailles to Liege between 1805-1807 returning to Versailles in 1807 and leaving again in 1808 to take up a similar post at Mauberge. Left hand lock marked BOUTET DIRECTEUR ARTISTE, right hand lock marked MANUFACTURE A VERSAILLES. Both locks with fine quality engraving to lockplate, flintcocks and matching frizzens. Excellent strong actions.
Figured Walnut stock with shaped chequered panels, horn fore end. Lock inletting is a work of art In itself with even a tapered part carved from solid following the line of the lock spring. Leather cheekpiece to shoulder of stock mounted with silver retaining band. Wood to metal fit is excellent with minimal shrinkage. There is no visible serial number on this gun which is not unusual as not all Boutets were numbered. Estimate of circa 1800 based upon dating evidence of other examples of known date but range could be 1798-1809 and BOUTET poincon combined with DB inspectors mark could point to a date of manufacture between 1807-08. See below.
Overall length 49.75”
Iron mounts remain in the white and are unpolished. Some wear to lock pans. All engraving is crisp. Top jaw screw to left hand lock shows signs of repair and top jaws are plain, otherwise all looks very original and matching. Front sling swivel absent. Stock is original and has wear marks but remains solid. Barrels have been re-blued with correct rust blue, minor imperfections. No gold remains on the barrel - there may have been gold leaf within makers marks and applied around dotted/circles at breech and foresight. Sometimes these more restrained examples have extensive blocks of gold leaf applied for first few inches of breech as well. This could be re-instated by an expert. Barrel bores are clean but show signs of use commensurate with wear on pans. This gun has been well used - not just a status symbol. Overall superb quality yet restrained.
Nicolas Noël Boutet (1761-1833) is without question the premier French gun-maker of all time. Throughout the French Revolution and Napoleonic period Boutet was the principal innovator and artist. His work is greatly undervalued when compared to other forms of art. Nicholas Noël Boutet was named Directeur-Artiste of the newly formed Versailles Arms Manufactory in 1792. The luxurious firearms started being produced soon after, around 1794, from his Versailles manufactory and were commissioned for presentation to Marshals of France as well as Royalty elsewhere in Europe and beyond. His presentation firearms and swords can be see in many of the most famous institutions worldwide today such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Wallace Collection, Royal Armouries as well as Royal gunrooms and Palaces.
As a database of serial numbers and years of manufacture does not appear to exist for Boutet, the dating of this particular Boutet is approximated to circa 1800 but could be from 1798-1809. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a Boutet Rifle which they date circa.1800 which has number 55 on its side (Accession Number:1970.179.1a–q). Hallmarks on that rifle date the silver to the period 1798-1809. A pair of Boutet pistols in a private collection carry the same DB inspectors mark and can be dated to 1802. Other dating characteristics when comparing to other Boutet such as shown in Herbert J. Houze, “Versailles Civilian Presentations by Boutet”, in Man at Arms magazine, February 2014, p 29, give rise to dating evidence of manufacture between 1798-1809.
This is a rare original flintlock Boutet available at well below the price of his more sophisticated presentation arms and a fine investment which can be admired for his artistry. It is superbly balanced and points well as you would expect.
Original Price £9,500.00 now REDUCED to £7,600.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 520H
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
