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Lot 1203:Cased Pair of Gold Banded Booth of Philadelphia Pistols

December 3rd, 2016|Rock Island, IL

Lot 1203:Cased Pair of Gold Banded Booth of Philadelphia Pistols

December 3rd, 2016|Rock Island, IL

Estimated Price$9,000 - $13,000

A) Booth Percussion Pistol

The lock plate feature burst and military motif engraves and is signed "BOOTH." The smooth bore barrel has a gold inlaid band at the breech and a deeply struck "BOOTH/PHILADELPHIA" hallmark highlighted in gold. The upper left barrel flat has a pair of "crown/letter" proofs suggesting that the pistol was exported to Europe. Equipped with fixed sights and hammer safety. The barrel tang, spur trigger guard and pineapple finial are engraved. Mounted on a full length stock featuring checkering on the grip. The wooden ramrod has a horn tip. William Booth is listed on Gluckman and Satterlee's "American Gun Markers" on page 22 and Sellers' "American Gunsmiths" on page 34 as having worked in Philadelphia as a manufacturer of martial pistols and manufacturer and renter of dueling pistols from circa 1799 to 1816 before the development of the percussion cap. This pistol, however, appears to have an original percussion lock. The partitioned case holds a wad container made of paper, F. Joyce of London percussion cap tin, bullet mold, nipple wrench, "HUBER" marked screwdriver, Sellier & Bellot paper percussion cap paper container and two ramrods.

ConditionVery good. The barrel has a mottled brown patina. There is some flash type pitting. The action retains traces of original case colors, and the trigger guard retains areas of original blue finish. The refinished stock is good with a long cracks on the left flat and forearm (near tip), a series of pressure dents on the forearm (left side) and some minor handling marks. The sides of the grip area have been flattened. The set trigger does not function properly, otherwise the action functions. The case is good with a cracked lid, some missing material at a corner, handling/storage marks and worn lining.

Details

ManufacturerAmerican

ModelPercussion

TypePistol

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge58 percussion

Barrel10 inch octagon

Finishbrown/casehardened

Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL

Catalog page141

B) Booth Percussion Pistol

As described in "A."

ConditionVery good. The barrel has a mottled brown patina. There is flash type pitting. The lock plate retains traces of original case colors, and the hammer retains half of the original case colors. The refinished stock is good with a repair on the forearm, a chip missing near the lock, a small crack on the radiating from the lock screw and some minor handling marks with a couple long scratches. The sides of the grip have been flattened. The set trigger does not engage properly, otherwise the action functions.