The firm of Gastinne-Renette originated around 1812 and was cemented by the marriage of Louis-Julien Gastinne and Joséphine Adèle Renette, son and daughter of the founders. By the second half of the 19th century, they were the premiere source for dueling pistols in Paris. They even rented sets like this and trained duelists how to use them effectively. They manufactured high end firearms for Napoleon III, the King of Spain, Annie Oakley, and many other notable figures. While dueling has mostly faded into obscurity in England and the U.S. by the time these were made, pistol and sword duels in France and other areas of Continental Europe continued into the 20th century. These pistols were proofed in Liege and retailed by Gastinne-Renette of Paris around the mid to late 1800s. They have "1" and "2" respectively along with "Fni par Gastinne Renette a Paris" marked on the top of the barrels through the blue, Liege proofs on the bottom of the barrels, scroll engraving, dovetailed blade front sights, fixed notch rear sights on the upper tangs, spurred trigger guards with nice scroll accents, and checkered half-stocks with carved acanthus scrolls. They come in a hardwood case with "GASTINNE-RENETTE/PARIS" in gold lettering inside the lid, closely fitted interior with bright green lining and an assortment of loading and cleaning tools. The a mallet and ramrod are absent.

Excellent overall with 98% plus original blue, 95% case colors, and only minimal light handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good and has mild storage wear on the refinished exterior, compression marks and mild wear from contact with the pistols, and some slivers of the interior edging and the keyhole plate absent. The accessories are mostly very fine with minimal storage wear.

See "A."

Excellent overall with 98% original blue, 95% case colors, and only minimal light handling and storage wear such as some slight fading at the edges of the barrel near the muzzle from contact with the case. Mechanically excellent. This is a exceptional set of Continental percussion pistols that would have been suitable for demonstrating your honor in a duel or your marksmanship at the range.