Each of these matching percussion pistols has blade and notch sights on the Damascus barrels, which also have gold filled engraving on the upper rear sections, Liege proofmarks, and “Damas Moire” incorporated into the scrollwork. The engraving extends onto the breech and barrel tang where each has a bust of an animal. There are no visible maker’s marks, but the pistols are finely crafted and were, almost certainly, destined for Middle Eastern markets. The locks have coordinating scenes of an Arab hunter stalking lions. On one he is hunting a lioness with a pistol and knife, and on the other, he is using a long gun and hunting a male. Both of these scenes have a bird at the rear. It is on the ground in the first and in flight on the second. The animals and the hunter are inlaid in gold and set on finely detailed Middle Eastern backgrounds. The hammers have relief leafy scroll engraving. The varnished walnut stocks are inlaid with silver wire and engraved thumb plates and fitted with gold washed engraved furniture including the buttcap, which has a compartment. They both included a brass tipped ramrod.

Both are very fine. The barrels have a gray patina and patches of oxidation on the exposed surfaces and retain strong original brown finish and Damascus patterns in the protected areas. The etched panels retain traces of the original gold finish which is stronger on gun B. The barrel of gun A also has the front sight absent. The furniture retains 20% of the gold finish. The wood is also very good with some slivers of silver inlay absent and some light marks overall. The locks function fine.

As discussed in A.

As discussed in A.