French gunsmith Nicolas Noel Boutet (1761-1833) remains one of the most renown European gunmakers of the late 18th century and early 19th century. These pistols are not built identically but are matching numbered as a pair on the barrels and have "1" and "2" on the top of the barrels and upper tangs. Both were converted from earlier systems from to use percussion caps. The swamped smoothbore barrels both have "BOUTET" and "A VERSAILLES" in gold, "115" in gold on top, silver blade front sights, gold bands at the muzzles, and sighting grooves. The first pistol has an interesting boxlock mechanism and is marked "-BOUTET-" in gold just behind the hammer and ahead of the notch rear sight. It was originally a pill-lock. A pair of pistols like the first pistol but with both percussion and pill-lock hammers are pictured in "The Manufacture d'Armes de Versailles" by Dean Taylor. The second pistol was originally a traditional side lock flintlock and is also marked "-BOUTET-" in gold. Both pistols have the same spurred trigger guards and adjustable single set triggers. The nicely figured stocks have checkered wrists, gold wedge escutcheons, and domed pommel caps. The first pistol has a gold oval shaped escutcheon with an inscribed monogram that appears to consist of the letters "BBD," and the second pistol has the same monogram on the gold wrist escutcheon and engraved shell and wing pattern side plates. The case has "MANUFACTURE/a Versailles/NN. BOUTET" on the lid escutcheon and has flame figure. In addition to the pistols, the case contains a variety of accessories including a horn flask with golden fittings, one loading rod (one absent), pill primer, a screwdriver, a ball mold, an oiler, a knapping hammer, mallet, and cleaning rod.

Very fine as period converted for percussion caps with 60% brown finish, bright gold, 70% bright niter blue on the hammer, 70% case colors, mild oxidation and pitting mainly on the barrel, and mild wear. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, attractive figure, and some scratches and dings. Mechanically needs work. The case and accessories are fine and have mostly minor storage wear, and the case lid has some thin cracks and chipping on one corner.

See "A." Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Fine as period converted for percussion caps with 30% brown finish, bright gold, 70% bright niter blue on the hammer, 75% case colors, some spots of oxidation/pitting, and mild wear. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, attractive figure, light scratches, and small dings. The set trigger needs adjustments, but the lock is mechanically excellent.