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LOT 3065
Exceptional Cased
Tipping & Lawden Sharps Patent Four- Shot Pepperbox Pistol - Serial no. 715, 30 RF cal., 3 inch fluted bbl., blue/silver finish, hard rubber grips. This is an outstanding example of a cased Sharps Patent Four-Shot Pepperbox pistol that was manufactured by the English gun maker Tipping & Lawden. This Model 2 pistol has a blue barrel group, silver frame, casehardened small parts, and gutta percha grips with relief floral designs. The left side of the frame is marked “TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS PATENT” in a circle surrounding the hammer screw. The serial number is marked on the underside of the barrels at the muzzle, underside of the buttplate, on the bottom of each grip panel, and in the groove on the frame. Two small English proofs are marked in the flute on each side of the barrel group. The pistol comes in a English style case with a burl wood lid with inlaid brass shield and blue velvet lined interior. The inside of the lid has a J. Beattie label. It has an empty compartment with sliding wood lid and compartments for the included oiler, screw driver, and ejector rod. CONDITION: Excellent. The pistol retains 95% plus of the bright original blue finish and silver plating with some slight spots of visible brass and faint scratches overall. The silver is lightly aged/tarnished overall. The grips are very fine with some minor handling wear. The action remains excellent, and the markings are crisp. The case is very good with some pressure marks on the exterior, slight separation at one corner, and some minor stains and tears on the interior. The accessories are very fine. This is an outstanding complete set! Only 4,000 of these licensed pistols were manufactured by Tipping & Lawden in the 1860s and 1870s. Few of these pistols made their way to the States and less than a handful can be found in this exceptional condition. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3066
Very Fine Cased Engraved Tipping & Lawden Model 2 Sharps Patent Pepperbox Pistol - Serial no. 853, 30 RF cal., 3 inch fluted bbl., blue/ silver finish, gutta percha grips. Tipping & Lawden of Birmingham, England, were one of only two foreign firms licensed by Sharps to manufacture these pistols in Europe and manufactured around 4,000 of them
in the 1860s and 1870s
mixed between several calibers. Since they were designed to be readily carried, most are well-worn, but this example is high
condition and has beautiful engraved English scrollwork and rosettes on nearly all of the frame, essentially excluding only the front grip strap, as well as panels of scrollwork around the textured gripping sections on the sides of the barrels and a border pattern on the muzzles. The grips are the standard acanthus scrollwork patterned gutta percha type commonly found on their pistols. The barrel group is finished blue and has a post front sight and Birmingham proofs on the sides. The silver-plated frame at the breech has a groove for a rear sight and is marked “TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS PATENT” around the hammer screw on the left. It comes in a highly figured hardwood case with engraved escutcheon and banner, fitted interior, and a bore rod and key inside. This Christian Sharps design was easily one of the most concealable weapons of the period and has also become somewhat of a cultural icon of the era thanks to Hollywood. CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus original blue finish, 98% original silver plating with attractive natural aged patina, crisp engraving, and minor overall wear. The grips are fine and have mild handling wear, aged tones, and small loss at the corners. Mechanically excellent. The case is also very fine and has mild age and storage wear and absent key-hole escutcheon. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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