This attractive pair of pistols would have been well-suited for British gentleman or perhaps military officer; though the latter would likely have preferred pommel caps. The large smooth bores could have fired man or even horse stopping lead balls or buck and ball loads for defense while traveling and combined with the fixed sights would have also made the pair candidates for use in a duel should a man's honor have required it. They were manufactured by Westley Richards, easily one of the top gunmakers in English and arguably world history, around the 1830s. They have "WESTLEY RICHARDS 170 NEW BOND ST LONDON" on the top of their smoothbore, Damascus barrels which also have brass post front sights and platinum banded and lined breeches. The shop on New Bond Street opened in 1815. Swivel mounted ramrods are mounted below the barrels. These were a popular feature on late muzzle loading pistols and were especially well-suited to those using pistols on horseback since the ramrod could not be dropped. The locks have "WESTLEY RICHARDS" along the upper edge at the nose and sliding safeties. Most of the fittings aside from the barrels have flourishes of scrollwork. The wedge and thumb plates are silver. The trigger guard tangs are both numbered "487." The stocks have multi-point checkering. The pair comes in an English fitted hardwood case with a handle on top, Westley Richards trade label with the same address as the barrels, bullet mold, nipple wrench, small powder flask, bore rod, cleaning fitting, spare nipple, couple of lead balls, patches, and Eley cap tin.

Fine. The barrel displays attractive Damascus patterns and retains more than half of the original brown finish. The lock and breech plug display half of the original case colors and have gray and brown patina on the balance. The trigger guard has 90% plus of the original blue finish, and the ramrod entry pipe has 60% original blue. The silver has a dark aged patina. There is some light spotting and minor marks throughout. The stock is also very good and has crisp checkering, most clean edges, strong finish, a faint hairline crack above the right wedge plate, and light scratches concentrated on the left flat. Mechanically fine other than the safety.

See A.

Fine. The barrel displays attractive twist patterns along its length and retains about half of the original brown finish. Just over half of the original case colors and blue finish also remain. There are patches of mild oxidation and scattered small marks and scratches. The stock is also very good and has a very subtle hairline crack above the wedge on the right, crisp checkering other than some chips, strong finish, and general handling and storage type marks. Mechanically fine. The case is very good with moderate storage type wear, broken dividers inside, and new lining around the center. The accessories are mostly fair. This is a very attractive complete set by one of the finest gunmakers of the period and the present.