Simon Penzneter was active from the late 17th century until his death in 1724 and was a court and imperial armory gunmaker in Vienna. These pistols are signed "PENZNETER IN WIENN" in gold inlay on the sighting flats on the barrels and "SIMON PENZNEDER" below the pans and "IN. WIENN" behind the cocks on the lock plates. The Damascus barrels also feature masks at the rear of the sighting flats, blade front sights, floral finials ahead of the front sights, and brass notch rear sights on the tangs. The locks feature a classical female figure and martial trophies, scroll work on the cocks, and interesting pivoting frizzen faces and separate pan covers that would make the pistols safer to carry loaded. The furniture is gilt brass decorated primarily with floral and scroll patterns along with classical figures. The sideplates are particularly attractive and feature serpent masks, busts, and pierced scrolls. The stocks have horn forend tips, carved scrollwork, and fine molding.

Very good with an applied brown on the barrel along with bright gold inlay and subtle twist patterns, gray patina and crisp engraving on the lock, small repair on the right edge of the frizzen, some minor pitting, much of the original gilt finish remaining on the furniture, light aged patina on the brass, dent in the wrist escutcheon, fractures in the trigger guard bow, and generally mild overall wear. The refinished stock is also very good and has mostly crisp carving, some small cracks and repairs, a few insect holes on the rear of the wrist, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.

See "A."

Very good with an applied brown along the barrel along with bright original gold inlay and twist patterns, gray patina and crisp engraving on the lock, some light pitting, significant original gilt finish on the furniture, fractures on the right pommel tendril and trigger guard bow, and general mild overall wear. The refinished stock is also very good and has distinct carving, some small flakes, and faint repairs in the wrist. Mechanically fine.