This is a very fine example of a 19th Century French percussion pistol with monogrammed case and accessories. The tang and bolster are decorated with intricate scroll engraving on a stippled background. The pistol has a wedge-fastened highly figured European walnut stock. The stock forend is relief carved with floral designs and the fluted grip has relief carved floral panels on the sides and back. The hammer, lock plate, side plate, spur trigger guard and fluted buttplate are embellished with the same intricate scroll engraving as the bolster and tang. The top of the barrel is inscribed: "GASTINNE RENETTE A PARIS". The underside of the barrel has an impressed oval proof mark followed by the date "1844" and the number "385". The top of the barrel tang is numbered "1". The pistol has a heavy rifled octagon barrel with fenced bolster and dovetailed front sight. The lock plate, side plate and trigger guard are fitted flush with the stock. The barrel and iron furniture are bright. The pistol is complete in a mahogany case with an inlaid rectangular brass plate inscribed with a crown above the stylized initials "LL". The French fitted case is lined with purple velvet and has seven compartments. The pistol barrel must be dismounted to fit the case. The case contains a blue single cavity round ball bullet mold, an iron blue powder measure, a walnut ramrod with brass tip, a copper lacquer finished bag-shaped powder flask, a walnut cleaning rod with brass jag, a tin of percussion caps and several round balls. This is a very high quality pistol with impeccably executed relief carving and delicate engraving.

Very fine. The pistol barrel has a dull satin coin finish and the iron furniture has a dove gray patina. The engraved surfaces are in excellent. Wear is limited to flash pitting on the percussion nipple and adjacent portions of the bolster. The hammer has been professionally restored on the top portion which has been repaired. The stock is very good with some minor handling marks overall. The relief carving and fluting are crisp. The case exterior is fine with moderate storage wear. The case interior is good with some fading, and a couple of stains and a few small contact compression marks on the inside of the lid. There is some torn lining on the compartment edges. The accessories are all very good. This is an extraordinary example of a high quality mid-19th Century French percussion pistol.