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Lot 1264:Cased Pair of Hamburger & Co. Flintlock Pistols

August 26th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Lot 1264:Cased Pair of Hamburger & Co. Flintlock Pistols

August 26th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$4,000 - $6,000

A) Hamburger & Co. Flintlock Pistol

This pair of "carbine bore" pistols from c. 1813-1826 would have been well-suited to serve as a gentleman's traveling pistols or as a brace of pistols for an officer. They have "LONDON" marked, smoothbore Damascus barrels with post front sights, captive ramrods, platinum bands and vent liners, and Birmingham proofs. The barrels are secured with single wedges and hooked breech plugs. The standing breeches are equipped with integral notch rear sights and are engraved. The locks are signed "HAMBURGER & Co." and feature scroll engraving, sliding safeties, stepped tails, frizzen spring rollers, and reinforced cocks. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver. The ramrod entry pipes and trigger guards are blued and are engraved. The nearly full-length stocks have horn forend caps and checkered wrists. The pair comes in a fitted mahogany case with a bag of balls, an oak leaf pattern combination flask, a 17 bore ball mold, screwdriver with vent pick and powder measure, brush, and spare flints. Hamburger & Co. was active c. 1812-1826 as “Sword Cutlers & Gunmakers" at 30 King’s Street, Covent Garden, London, and continued on with various partners into the 20th century as military tailors.

ConditionFine with 85% plus of the period refinished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and mild pitting at the vent on the barrel; light original case colors and otherwise gray and brown patina on the lock, 25% plus original blue finish on the furniture (strongest inside the trigger guard), dark aged patina on the silver, and mostly minor age and storage related wear overall. The stock is fine with numerous scattered nicks and dings. Mechanically fine aside from an ineffective safety. The case and accessories are fine with moderate age and storage related wear, some repairs on the case including glue.

Details

ManufacturerBritish

ModelFlintlock Pistol

TypePistol

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge65

Barrel8 inch octagon

Finishbrown/casehardened/silver/blue

Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL

Catalog page238

B) Hamburger & Co. Flintlock Pistol

See "A."

ConditionFine with 80% plus of the period refinished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and moderate pitting at the vent on the barrel; attractive aged patina on the silver, traces of case colors and otherwise mostly smooth gray patina on the lock, 25% original blue finish on the furniture (primarily the inside of the trigger guard), and general minor scratches and dings on the metal and fine stock. The safety does not work, but, otherwise, the pistol is mechanically fine.