The English generally required dueling pistols to be smoothbore, but some pistols, especially those later on, had hidden rifling (bores smooth near the muzzle) or very faint scratch rifling which increased accuracy. So long as both pistols were the same, these improvements would still be fair in a duel. The use of older barrels from the Continent, perhaps picked up while on the Grand Tour, might have shown off how worldly its owner was or perhaps they were from earlier pistols dear to the owner. Johann Christoph Kuchenreuter (Kuchenreiter) (1755 - 1818) was active until 1809 in Steinweg near Regensburg, Bavaria, and was a gunsmith for the court of the princes of Thurn and Taxis. His nephew Johann Adam Kuchenreuter took over the shop and also became a well-known maker. Joseph Egg (Jean-Joseph Egg) was the nephew of famed Swiss-born London gunmaker Durs Egg and had his own shop around 1800-1837 through various partnerships and left it to his sons. They are both marked "3058" inside the forends and on the trigger guard tangs. The barrels have light scratch rifling, blade front sights with "spider" bases, "I. CHRI. KUCHENREITER" and scroll patterns in silver inlays, Kuchenreuter's gold maker's mark of a knight on horseback over "ICK," and patent breeches with platinum bands and plugs. The fixed notch rear sights are fitted to the upper tangs which have dense scroll engraving. The scroll engraved locks are marked "JOSEPH EGG, LONDON." below the fish motif hammers. The furniture mostly has coordinating scroll engraving. The trigger guards are spurred and enclose single set triggers. The silver wrist escutcheons are inscribed with what appears to be a duke's coronet over a crowned lion standing guard on a pedestal. The barrel key escutcheons are also silver.

Very fine with 85% bright blue on the barrel and furniture, aged patina on the silver, traces of original case colors and otherwise gray and brown patina on the balance, minor oxidation, and light nicks and scratches. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, most of the varnish, and general light scratches and pressure marks. Mechanically excellent.

See "A."

Very fine with 85% plus blue finish, aged patina on the silver, traces of original case colors mainly on the hammer, gray and brown patina on the balance, and general mild wear including some light oxidation. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering, strong varnish, and light scratches and pressure marks. Mechanically fine.