James Walsh was the successor to Thomas Tyrer and operated a gun store in the future Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in the antebellum era, at 60 Main St. and later noted "7 doors above St. Charles Hotel" and advertised that he imported guns, other sporting goods, and "gentleman's goods" from England as well as Colt revolvers. Dueling had largely faded in American society by this period, but it had always been more prevalent in the more aristocratic and honor obsessed American South and continued up through the Civil War. Many elite Southern gentlemen would have owned a brace of pistols, but few of their pistols remain today, making Southern dueling pistols particularly desirable. The smoothbore barrels have fixed blade front sights, "IMPORTED BY J. WALSH RICHMOND VA." inscribed on the top flats, dovetailed small notch rear sights, Birmingham proofs, and "60" marked on the bottom flats. The locks are signed "J. WALSH." There is classic English scroll and border engraving. The pistols are equipped with adjustable single set triggers. The stocks have horn forend caps, silver wrist escutcheons, and checkered wrists. The pair comes in a case with a "30" marked ball mold, pick, powder flask, two cap tins, and several lead balls.

Very good. The barrel has light original brown finish, Damascus twist patterns, gray and brown patina, and minor oxidation. The lock has strong case colors in the protected area around the hammer and otherwise mottled gray patina. The silver has an attractive dark aged patina. The trigger guard retains strong original blue finish in the protected areas, and the furniture otherwise displays mostly smooth gray patina. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering, a couple small spots of insect damage on the horn cap, and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The relined case is very good with minor age and storage related wear. The flask is fair and has an absent spring and soldered repair. The other accessories are very good with minor wear.

See "A."

Very good with a blend of faded original brown finish and brown patina along the barrel along with distinct Damascus patterns, some minor oxidation, a nice aged patina on the silver, strong applied blue finish on the repaired hammer and the breech, traces of original case colors and blue finish in the protected areas, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, and general mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering, a few small nicks at the edges, and minor scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive pair of southern retailer marked dueling pistols from the antebellum era, when gentlemen were still resolving their affairs of honor at gun point.