Philippe Joseph Malherbe owned a substantial gunmaking enterprise in the 19th century. He offered his services to President James Madison in 1816, and the firm later exported arms used during the American Civil War. These pistols lack Liege proofs and are thus likely from the very early 1800s. The included provenance statement on H.A.M.S. Art Inv. Ltd. letterhead indicates the pistols were said to have been purchased from King Umberto II of Italy around 1939 and were later sold to the "Gold of Peru" Museum in Lima, Peru. The writer's name appears to be Schemke. He notes that these are the longest deluxe flintlock pistols he had ever scene, and they are the longest we can recall as well. Despite the long barrels, the pistols point rather nicely which is a testament to the stock design and balance. The long smoothbore barrels have "Damas D'acier" inlaid in gold in ornate script on the sighting flats and along with gold arrows behind the blade front sights, gold and silver floral accents, gold radiating lines, gold vent liners, and a series of bands in gold and silver at the breech ends. The underside of the barrels have "HL," and the "B" barrel also has a "5." The upper tangs have dished rear sights and are fully engraved. The locks have "P.J.Malherbe/a Liege" in ornate gold inlaid script, mostly martial themed engraving, and gold lined pans. The wedge escutcheons, ramrod tip and pipes, trigger guard, and trigger plate are smooth nickel-silver. The remaining furniture is gilded and has high relief classical martial trophies. The stocks have highly attractive raised relief floral carving. The closely fitted hardwood case contains the pistols and a large complement of mostly casehardened steel or ebony accessories.

See "A."