The finely patterned Damascus barrels have fine "micro-groove" rifling, a pair of gold inlaid bands at the muzzles, dovetailed silver blade front sights, "GOELLNER IN SUHL" in gold inlay on top, gold crossed colors and a helm on a spear, gold laurel wreaths, and gold lightning bolts erupting from engraved storm clouds at the breech followed by a pair of gold inlaid bands. The casehardened patent breeches also have gold bands, scroll engraving, and nicely sculpted bolsters. The standing breeches are casehardened and feature screw adjustable notch rear sights, gold inlaid "1." (A) and "2." (B), elaborate scroll engraving, and gold floral designs at the tails. The flat locks have scroll and border engraving, "GOELLNER IN SUHL" inlaid in gold at the centers, gold inlaid martial trophies at the tails, and elaborately chiseled, engraved, and gold inlaid bestial design hammers. The locks have an interesting design with an external safety position with an external sear similar to those found on miquelet locks. In this position the hammers are kept just off of the nipples. The locks also have internal half-cock and full-cock notches on the tumblers. The locks are fired using adjustable single set triggers. The pistols are mounted with silver furniture, and the ramrods have silver tips. The trigger guards are spurred. The finials are floral vase designs, and the furniture also includes martial, scroll, and floral engraving. The stocks have raised relief carved scroll designs, mask designs integrated into the scroll carving above the wrist escutcheons, silver pin accented checkering, and flared pommels. The silver escutcheons on the wrists inscriptions read: "Ihrem/Regiments Veteranen/und/Verehrten Cameraden/Major von Gmainer/bei/seiner Beforderung/1834" (A) and "Das/Officier=Corps/des/K: bayr: 13" Lin: Inft: Regmts:/zum/freundschaftlichen/Andenken" (B) translating approximately to "Your regimental veterans and esteemed comrades. Major von Gmainer on his promotion in 1834" and "The Officer Corps of the Royal Bavarian 13 Line Infantry Regiment in friendly memory." The trigger guards are inscribed "Widmung." meaning "Dedication." The pair comes in a very elaborate hardwood case with a combination of contrasting woods, a four leaf design on the lid, an engraved key escutcheon and a closely fitted interior with green lining holding the pistols and a suite of accessories which include a loading and cleaning rod with attachments, a mallet, a "1701.2" marked ball mold and combination screwdriver/nipple wrench, a heart shaped sight adjustment key, a nickel-silver powder measure, and key. Franz von Gmainer is identified as promoted to major on May 28, 1834, in "Militair Handbuch des Koenigreiches Bayern 1838" and was a staff officer of the 13th Line Infantry Regiment led by Colonel Freidrich Hertling. Hertling was later lieutenant general and briefly acting War Minister of Bavaria under King Ludwig I. A history of Franz von Gmainer's family in German titled "Denkschrift ben Freiherrlichen Geburs=Stand der Eblen Herren von Gmainer zum un auf dem Schonstein..."was published in 1867 which discusses his request to be admitted to the nobility based on his ancestry and notes that he was a former captain in Graf Fugger's Chevau-legers Regiment and was a chamberlain, lieutenant colonel, and wing adjutant to King Ludwig I. The latter was king of Bavaria from 1825 until his abdication during the revolutions of 1848 in favor of Maximilian II, his son.

Excellent with 97% vibrant original casehardened finish and only minimal light handling and storage marks, crisp engraving, bright gold, light aged patina and some verdigris on the furniture, and some very minor spots of oxidation staining on the barrel. The stock is also excellent and has crisp raised relief carving and checkering, and minimal light handling and storage wear concentrated on the left flat. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine with mild age and storage related wear mainly on the case exterior which has some slight hairline age related cracks visible.

See "A." Provenance: The Mac McCroskie Collection

Excellent, very comparable to the other pistol. The pistol exhibits only minor age and storage related wear. The engraving and markings remain crisp. The gold remains bright. The silver has attractive lightly aged patina and some light verdigris. The barrel has a few small spots of oxidation. The stock is also excellent and has crisp raised relief carving, smooth finish, and minimal handling and storage marks mainly on the left flat. Mechanically excellent. This is an incredible pair of presentation pistols certainly worthy of an influential Bavarian officer in the 1830s. The writer cannot recall a finer example of this type that we have offered at auction!