Richard Constable was an English trained gunmaker active in Philadelphia c. 1817-1851. His shop is listed at 88 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA. The barrels on these dueling pistols have no visible proofs. They have "PHILADA" on top, an unclear Masonic rule and compass style marking on the left flats, and "A" has an "I" mark on the lower left flat. The locks are signed "CONSTABLE" and have semi-waterproof pans, frizzen spring rollers, stepped tailed, sliding safeties, and scroll and burst engraving. The pistols also feature brass blade front sights on the barrels, fixed notch rear sights on the standing breeches, adjustable single set triggers and spurred trigger guards with pineapple finials and classical English style engraving. The forend caps, wedge escutcheons, oval escutcheons on the left stock flats, and scroll engraved pommel inlays are silver. The half-length stocks have the distinctive saw-handle style and have checkered wrists.

Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with mostly artificial gray and light brown patina on the barrel and lock, aged patina on the silver, most of the refinished blue on the other furniture, some mild oxidation and pitting, and general mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering with minor wear, light scratches and dings, a crack at the lock screw, and another faint crack at the nose of the lock. The lock will not hold unless the trigger is set first, and the safety is not working; otherwise, mechanically fine.

See "A." Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr

Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with mostly light artificial brown and gray patina on the lock and barrel, aged patina on the silver, refinished blue/case colors on the other furniture, some mild oxidation and pitting, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has a repair visible by the nose of the lock, crisp checkering with a few divots and spots of wear, a thin tension crack at the lock screw on the left, and mild dings and scratches throughout. Mechanically needs work.