The "Queen Anne" pistols first became popular in the early 18th century and remained fairly common through the century, especially for pocket sized pistols. This pair has screw-off cannon barrels with rifled bores, one piece breech and lock plates, and frizzen springs that fold between the pans and cocks; all of these features are considered traits of a true "Queen Anne" pistol. The pair are easily small enough to be carried in a pocket and have scroll, floral and mask engraved silver stocks. There are also bands of floral engraving on the barrel, breech, lock, and silver trigger guards. They are signed "H. DEVILLERS/A LIEGE" below the cocks. Henri Devillers was active in Liege, Belgium, from around the 1730 until his death in 1762 and is known to have made several pairs of matching or very similar pistols with silver or gold stocks. A larger silver stocked pair of pistols by Devillers has been dated to the 1730s, and the lack of proofmarks suggests this pair was manufactured prior to the establishment of the Liege proof house in 1743. One particularly interesting aspect of the pair and some of the other Deviller pocket pistols is the fact that the trigger guards slide forward and act as safeties.

Very good plus. The iron is fairly bright and has some minor spotting and patination. The silver is mostly bright with slight tarnishing. There are some light marks and scratches throughout. The markings and engraving patterns remain crisp, and the lock is mechanically excellent.

See A.

Very good plus. The iron displays light gray patina mixed with faint pitting and light spotting. The silver has light tarnishing and minor marks. The engraving and markings are crisp, and the lock is mechanically excellent.