This is a truly extraordinary pair of cased, relief engraved, and gold inlaid target pistols made by Adolph Frohn. Frohn was the Honorable Schutzenmeister of the Prvilegierten Schutzengild in Suhl from 1873-1893. These exquisite and ornate museum quality pistols feature delicate gold and silver inlays on the barrels, frames, trigger guards, and back straps and intricate antique ivory inlays on the stocks and case. They have Flobert style rolling block actions with off-set hammers and breech levers that are recessed into the back straps, single set triggers, and are fitted with fluted barrels fitted with elevation adjustable rear sights and fixed front sights. The trigger guards have prominent finger spurs. The barrels have a highly polished blue finish decorated with delicate gold inlaid scrollwork and floral designs. The muzzle and breech are inlaid with two gold bands. The maker's name and address, "A. FROHN, SUHL, GERMANY," is inlaid in gold on the left side of each barrel. "Crown/B" and "crown/U" proofmarks are stamped on the right side of each breechblock. The top of the front sight dovetails and the top of the front sights have the same gold inlays as the barrels. The muzzles are engraved with floral designs on lined backgrounds. The frames, trigger guards, back straps, and breech levers are color casehardened. The sides of the receivers have gold inlaid classical figures surrounded by gold and silver inlaid and engraved foliate designs on lined backgrounds. The gold and silver inlays are also present on the trigger guards, back straps, and breech levers. The sides of the breechblocks are polished bright, and the rear faces of the breechblocks are color casehardened and decorated with floral engraving. The hammers are gold plated and have engraved backs. The two-piece, wedge fastened, walnut stocks are covered with intricate and detailed inlays of flowing foliate designs ending in fanciful creature heads. Frohn was the designer of a Martini type action and also very famous for the look of the pistol frames similar to the Martini rifle frames. His inlay designs copy one of the most revered wheelock decorators of the early 17th century in Germany. Frohn chose this style from "the master of the animal head tendrils" to show that he could inlay wood with the best of the golden age German wheelock decorators. All of the great gun makers of the time made one piece in their career (taking many years to complete) that was far and away the most beautiful piece that they had ever done to show how good they were. These pieces were rightly called "masterpieces," and these were Frohn's masterpieces. They were never meant to be used. Instead they were intended to be shown at exhibitions. The pistol case has contrasting walnut veneers with an inlaid centerpiece and inlaid ebony edges. The fitted case is lined with green velvet and has ten compartments, including three with brass lids in addition to the fitted spaces for the two pistols. The case contains the following nickel plated accessories: (1) a cleaning rod, (2) powder measure, (3) case resizer, (4) de-capping tool, (5) a single cavity bullet mold, and (6) a capping tool. Also included is a copy of the Winter 2004/2005 (Volume 7 Number 4) issue of Der Waffenschmied, the Journal of the German Gun Collectors Association, which includes an article on the pistols and a 2 page spread with color photography. These pistols are a magnificent example of the finest of all German gunmaker's art.

Excellent plus. The pistol retains 98% of the original high polish blue finish and delicate case colors with only very minor storage wear. The flawlessly executed engraving is deep and crisp. The gold and silver inlays remain in perfect condition. The stock and intricate inlays are excellent and exhibit only very minor handling and storage wear. The action functions excellently.

As described in "A".

Excellent plus. Nearly 98% of the original high polish blue finish and delicate case colors remain and show only slight storage wear. The engraving and inlays are in excellent, near perfect condition. The stock and intricate inlays are also in excellent condition and display only very minor handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case exterior is also excellent with only minor handling marks. The green velvet interior is in fine condition with bright fabric. There is only some scattered and very minor tears in in the edges of the pistol compartments cause by contact with trigger and hammer spurs and front sights and minor compression marks in the lining of the lid. This magnificent pair of cased Adolph Frohn relief engraved and inlaid parlor pistols are paramount in European craftsmanship. Rock Island Auction Company is pleased to offer this extraordinary pair of pistols. The set is the finest of their type known and are truly Frohn masterpieces.