Birds head stock profiles were used on 18th century French cavalry and naval pistols. The basic designs were modified by gunmakers into true bird heads for officer pistols like the eagle pattern on this matching pair. Other very similar pairs are known with marking from Duval of Nantes. A similar pistol from a pair by Duval at the Washington Naval Yard is believed to have been carried by the Marquis de Lafayette. The metal components are nearly all brass which would have been particularly suited for a naval officer. The cannon style barrels and locks are unmarked, and the furniture aside from the eagle head pommels are fairly plain. The stocks have silver wire inlays at the back of the wrist. The ramrods are bright iron.

See "A".