This lot consists of a matching pair of Parisian flintlock pistols featuring gilded and silver chiseled furniture. The lock plate is signed "SIMON/A PARIS." The swamped barrel with multi-groove rifling has sections of gilded floral work on a blued background at the breech and muzzle. The upper right barrel flat has "SIMON" in gold and the upper left barrel flat has "A PARIS" in gold. The barrel breech is in gold and features engraved floral and geometric patterns. The barrel tang is also engraved. The pistol has a fixed front sight, two leaf rear sight (one folding, the other fixed) and single set trigger. The full length stock features a relief floral carving around the lock plate, side plate and barrel tang and on the underside of the forearm. A high relief border carving is featured on the forearm and around the lock plate and side plate. The bulbous buttcap, trigger guard and ramrod pipes are chiseled silver and feature military motifs, floral patterns and lion heads. Gold fills in the negative space. A chiseled bird head makes up the front of the trigger guard. The ebony ramrod has a horn tip. There is one shoulder stock that fits both pistols. The stock has a finely cast silver buttplate chased en suite with detailed floral patterns and various heads of wild game (boar, stag, wolf). The raised cheekpiece has a high relief carving of a dog head. The silver components are stuck with hallmarks dated 1798-1809. (Research has discovered that the Simon family of Parisian gunsmiths dates back to Charles Simon who operated in Paris from 1765 to 1796 and was a gun maker for King Louis XVI.) The triggerguard tang is marked "2" on pistol "A" and "1" on pistol "B", just below the hallmarks. The overall length of the pistol is 18 3/4 inches and 28 1/2 inches with stock. The pistols were formerly part of the "Armes Anciennes" Collection of Charles Draeger, which was sold in 1987.

Very fine. The exposed metal surfaces have an overall bright appearance showing some scattered fine pitting. 97% plus of the original gold inlay remains. The silver is excellent with much of the gold remaining. The stock is very fine showing some minor pressure dents and scratches. Mechanically fine. The shoulder stock is very fine with a number of minor pressure dents and scratches. The silver is fine with much of the gold remaining. Truly an extraordinary pair of exhibition quality stocked gilded flintlock pistols made by the Parisian gunsmith Simon that would be hard to improve upon! Do not miss your chance to own a pair of museum quality works of turn of the 18th century French firearm craftsmanship!

As described in "A."

Very fine. The exposed metal surfaces have an overall bright appearance showing limited light pitting. 97% plus of the original gold inlay remains. The silver is fine with much of the gold remaining. The stock is very fine with some minor pressure dents and scratches. Mechanically fine.