Philipp Colnot was active c. 1800-1817. This classic pair of Napoleonic era dueling pistols originated in the shop of Colnot in Vienna but show significant French influence, including from the famous Versailles Manufactory led by Nicolas Noel Boutet. Dueling was common in the period, including between rival officers within the armies. Losing officers in personal combat made military leaders in various countries work to limit the practice. The swamped barrels feature interesting rifling with four widely spaced sets of three narrow and shallow grooves. This may have been intended to disguise the rifling as they appear smoothbore at a glance at the muzzle and/or to attempt to get some of the accuracy benefits of rifling while still largely having smoothbore barrels. The barrels have dovetailed silver blade front sights, surrounded by gold floral inlays, "Colnot" in gold inlay with floral accents on top, gold vent liners, and gold bands and floral designs at the breech. The tangs have notch rear sights and "1" and "2." The locks have "guttered" rainproof pans, frizzen spring rollers, "in Wien" in gold inlay, and border and classical martial engraving. They are fired with single set triggers. The ramrod pipes have chevron patterns. The entry pipe finials, trigger guards, and pommel caps have raised relief chiseled floral patterns. The full-length stocks have scale pattern wrist checkering and flared pommels, and the ramrods have horn tips.

Fine with 60% of the original blue finish on the barrel, mostly mottled dark gray patina on the lock and furniture, mild oxidation, and the vast majority of the original bright gold inlay remaining. The stock is also fine and has crisp scale checkering, a few cracks and repairs, and general mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.

See "A."

Fine with 60% of the original blue finish, bright original gold inlays, mottled gray patina on the lock and furniture, and mild oxidation. The stock is fine and has crisp scale checkering, a few hairline cracks, and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.