This is a cased set of exhibition quality Gastinne Renette percussion pistols featuring chiseled motifs and elaborately carved ebony stocks with matching case and accessories. It is believed these pistols were made for French Emperor Napoleon III and given by his wife Empress Eugeni. The barrel is script signed "Gastinne Renette Arq Empereur a Paris." A beautifully executed vine and leaf deep chiseled pattern adorns the lock plate, hammer, barrel tang, trigger guard finial and trigger guard. The pattern covers nearly all of the surfaces. The barrel features three sections (at the breech, forearm tip and muzzle) featuring a chiseled stylized geometric pattern. Between these sections, the barrel has chiseled panels that gracefully create more barrel flats, which give the barrel a more rounded appearance at these areas. The pistol has fixed sights. The ebony half stock features full coverage of a stunning deep relief carved vine and leaf pattern which is similar to the pattern exhibited on the aforementioned metal components. Below the barrel tang is a carved royal cypher: a crown over "N" done in the style of the Monogram of the Prince Imperial. The stock has a single barrel wedge and a butt cap with a chiseled geometric pattern. The case has high relief adornments on the edges, lock escutcheon, and initial plate. The case has an ebony veneer and is lined with red velvet. The inside of the lid has the Gastinne Renette embossed label and adornments highlighted in gold. The initial plate on the lid has the "crown/EN" royal cypher. The accessories are the following: silver tipped ebony ramrod, silver tipped ebony cleaning rod, two carved cylindrical ebony containers, screwdriver with carved ebony handle, carved ebony hammer, engraved powder measure, G&J double face chiseled pattern powder flask with silver hardware, and fully engraved single cavity bullet mold. Gastinne Renette was a famous Parisian maker of percussion arms and was the gunmaker to the king of Spain. He worked from 1838 to the 1880s.

Fine. The metal surfaces have a very attractive smooth gray patina showing some moderate pitting (mostly on the barrel). The stock is excellent with a crisp carving. Mechanically fine. The case is fine with some missing veneer, typical high spot wear on the otherwise fine lining and some minor handling/storage marks. An elaborate cased set of percussion pistols handcrafted by Gastinne Renette.

As described in "A."

Fine. The metal surfaces have a very attractive smooth gray patina showing some moderate pitting (mostly on the barrel). The stock is very fine with single minor cracks near the lock plate, lock plate screw and forearm. The carving is crisp.