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Outstanding and Finely Engraved High Grade Pair of English Percussion Pistols
206
LOT 3375
Exceptional Pair of Mapplebeck & Lowe Marked Percussion Belt Pistols -A) British Percussion Pistol - NSN, 50 percussion cal., 9 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, varnished checkered walnut stock. Each of the scroll engraved locks is marked “MAPPLEBECK & LOWE below the bolster. Mapplebeck and Lowe, ironmongers, machinists, and manufacturers of Bull Ring, Smithfield, and Gloucester Street in Birmingham, England, were active through most of the 19th century and designed, manufactured, and sold a wide variety of metal goods. William Batty Mapplebeck held several patents for various designs. This is the finest pair of pistols bearing their mark that we have ever seen, and they were likely retailed at one of the firm’s showrooms and produced by another Birmingham firm in the 1830s or 1840s. They would have been suitable
for use in duels given their fairly large caliber, smoothbore, long barrels with fixed post front sights and their single set triggers. Many English dueling pistols used notch rear sights as well to aid in accurate fire, but this pair points very naturally and would have been capable of accurate fire at dueling ranges. The pair’s swivel mounted ramrods and belt hooks would have also made them very useful when traveling by horseback or in a coach or for use by a military officer. The bottom of the barrels have pairs of Birmingham proofs. The breeches have gold bands and scroll engraving. The trigger guards, pommel caps and cap box lids also have matching scrollwork, and many of the small parts display floral engraving accents including floral blooms at the tips of the ramrods. The barrels are brown finished Damascus. The patent breeches, lock plates, and caps are casehardened. The patent breeches also have platinum vents. The belt
hooks and triggers are fire blue, and the trigger guards are blued. The nearly full length walnut stocks have attractive horn forend caps, German silver wedge plates, silver thumb plates, fine multi-point checkering, and the aforementioned cap compartments in the butts.
CONDITION: Excellent. 90% plus of the strong original brown finish and attractive Damascus twist patterns remain on the barrel which has mild oxidation at the muzzle and small patches of light pitting. 85% plus of the attractive original case colors remain on the lock and hammer. The gold band on the breech has a scratch, and the plug has a scratched inverted “V.” 90% plus of the original fire blue remains on the hook and trigger, and the trigger guard retains 90% plus original blue finish. The faded areas
are mostly even gray throughout. The stock is also excellent and has crisp checkering, occasional small storage marks and dings, and several small circular indents on the left flat. The lock
and set trigger are mechanically excellently.
B) British Percussion Pistol - NSN, 50
percussion cal., 9 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
brown/casehardened/blue finish, varnished
checkered walnut stock. See A.
CONDITION: Excellent. 85% plus of the
original brown finish and attractive Damascus
twist patterns remain on the barrel. 95% plus
of the original, vibrant case colors remain on
the lock and hammer, and the trigger guard
retains 90% plus of the original blue finish.
There are some scattered patches of light
pitting and
oxidation
throughout,
mostly on the barrel. The stock is also excellent
and has strong original finish, crisp checkering, and
occasional small storage type marks including some
small circular dents on the left. The lock and set trigger
are mechanically excellent. This is a gorgeous pair of
English percussion pistols likely owned by a well to do English gentleman or officer.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000