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Not All Art is Framed
The gold and silver inlays are also present on the trigger guards, back straps, and breech levers. The sides of the breechblocks are polished bright, and the rear faces of the breechblocks
are color casehardened and decorated with
floral engraving. The hammers are gold plated and have engraved backs. The two-piece, wedge fastened, walnut stocks are covered with intricate and detailed inlays of flowing foliate designs ending in fanciful creature heads. Frohn was the designer of a Martini type action and also very famous for the look of the pistol frames similar
to the Martini rifle frames. His inlay designs copy one of the most revered wheelock decorators of the early 17th century in Germany. Frohn chose this style from “the master of the animal head tendrils” to show that he could inlay wood with the best of the golden age German wheelock decorators. All of the great gun makers of the time made one piece in their career (taking many years to complete) that was far and
away the most beautiful piece that they had ever done to show how good they were. These pieces were rightly called “masterpieces,” and these were Frohn’s masterpieces. They were never meant to be used. Instead they were intended to be shown at exhibitions. The pistol case has contrasting walnut veneers with an inlaid centerpiece and inlaid ebony edges. The fitted case is lined with green velvet and has
ten compartments, including three with brass lids in addition to the fitted spaces for the two pistols. The case contains the following nickel plated accessories: (1) a cleaning rod, (2) powder measure, (3) case resizer, (4) de-capping tool,
(5) a single cavity bullet mold, and (6) a capping tool. Also included is a copy of the Winter 2004/2005 (Volume 7 Number 4) issue of Der Waffenschmied, the Journal of the German Gun Collectors Association, which includes an article on the pistols and a 2 page spread with color photography. These pistols are a magnificent example of the finest of all German
gunmaker’s art.
CONDITION: Excellent plus. The pistol retains 98% of the original high polish blue finish and delicate case colors with only very minor storage wear. The flawlessly executed engraving is deep and crisp. The gold and silver inlays remain
in perfect condition. The stock and intricate inlays are excellent and exhibit only very minor handling and storage wear. The action functions excellently. B) Adolph Frohn, Suhl
Germany Pistol - NSN, 8 mm cal., 11 1/2 inch bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. As described in “A”.
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