Unknown Cased Pair Of Dueling Pistols, Brass Silver & Steel 9″ Flintlock Pistols, Case & Accessories, MFD Atf Antique .54 Caliber Ball

SOLD FOR: $1,835.00
LSB#: 180330GT13, 180330GT14

Make: Unknown

Model: Flintlock Dueling Pistol Set

Serial Number: None

Year of Manufacture: Unknown

Caliber: 180330GT13: Approximately .54 Caliber Ball, 180330GT14: Approximately .58 Caliber Ball

Action Type: Single-Shot Flintlock Pistols

Markings: The brass fixtures and lockplate have decorative engraving. Silver embossed busts are on the sideplates, thumbplates, pommels and trigger guards.

Barrel Length: The round faux-banded “cannon” barrels are 9” in length.

Sights / Optics: None.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are one-piece wood with decorative carving, brass sideplates, thumbplates, pommel caps, trigger guards and ramrod ferrules.

180330GT13: The stock has a few thin cracks at the front on the left, another starting at the rear sideplate screw and going forward to the shouler of the barrel and top tang, one along the right side of the trigger guard’s forward tang back to the right side of the trigger plate, one going up and forward from teh bend of the frizzen spring to the top edge of the stock between the faux-barrel bands and a few at the top-front on the right. There are small losses at the rear of the lockplate, the bottom-right of the pommel at the front and several scattered light to moderate compressions, drag lines, scuffs and marks. The grip is in about Fair condition as Antique, Poor as Modern.

180330GT14: The stock has a thin crack on the front edge on the left, another going up from the sideplate’s silver bust to the edge at the barrel, another on the front edge on the right, another at the top-rear of the lockplate, small losses at the bottom-front at the pommel cap and at the top-rear of the lockplate, wtih scattered light to moderate compressions, drag lines, scuffs and marks. The grip is in about Fair condition as Antique, Poor as Modern.

Type of Finish: The barrels and lockplates are unfinished steel, the other fixtures brass with silver embossed bust decorations.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are dark. There is light to moderate erosion throughout both bores with spots of more severe erosion.

Overall Condition: 

180330GT13: This pistol retains approximately 20% of its metal finish, mostly in the brass and silver. The barrel and lockplate have scattered discoloration from oxidation with more moderate oxidation around the frizzen, flash pan and the top of the hammer. The brass mostly has a darker hue from tarnish with scattered scuffs. The sideplate has several dents around its rear screw. The left band of the pommel cap has a small loss at its end. The silver busts are still fairly well defined with only light wear. The screw heads are lightly disfigured with strong slots. Overall, this pistol is in about Fair-Good condition as Antique, Poor as Modern.

180330GT14: This pistol retains approximately 15% of its metal finish. The barrel and lockplate have scattered discoloration from oxidation with more moderate oxidation around the frizzen, flash pan and the top of the hammer. The brass mostly has a darker hue from tarnish with scattered scuffs. The sideplate has a wide, shallow dent under its rear screw. The silver busts are still fairly well defined with only light wear except for that on the sideplate which has extensive wear and discoloration. The screw heads are lightly disfigured with strong slots. Overall, this pistol is in about Fair condition as Antique, Poor as Modern.

Mechanics: 

180330GT13: The hammer will lock at half cock but will not go back to full-cock. The ramrod could not be removed without fear of damage to the rod. The frizzen spring and mainspring are strong. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

180330GT14: The action functions correctly. The ramrod could not be removed without fear of damage to the rod. The frizzen spring and mainspring are strong. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pair of pistols comes in a wooden case with hinged double swinging hook latches, lock (no key), with separate compartments for an included powder flask, cleaning rod, ball puller, flints (total of two included) and two compartments at opposing corners which are currently empty. The powder flask compartment is at the center and is nearly detached from the blue felt lining. There is moderate wear throughout the bottom lining, though the lid lining is in good shape with only light wear. The exterior of the case has scattered light compressions, suffs, drag-lines and scrapes with some chips at corners and edges. The case is in about Good condition. The accessories show light tarnish in their brass surfaces, the flask has a dent on one side, and are in about Good-plus overall condition.

Our Assessment: Before the self-contained cartridge there were various methods of igniting a powder charge in a firearm. The earliest examples were primitive indeed, simply applying a burning stick or rope to the flash-pan or lighting a fuse which dropped down into the chamber. Between these primitive mechanisms and the percussion cap, the flintlock reigned supreme. With a piece of flint held in the cock and struck against the frizzen upon firing, a spark would (hopefully) drop into the flash pan and ignite the main charge. During the reign of the flintlock, it was also common for civilized men to go out into a field and shoot at each other to settle disputes or avenge insults, making it common among the nobility to have a pair of pistols for just this task. Though we don’t know who made these pistols or when, they are of this style, with two matching pistols, stored together in a case which can house all of the paraphernelia to make them function, just in case you needed to solve things politely. Given their condition, we are inclined to believe that these are Antique dueling pistols and not modern reproductions which have been horribly abused, and they would make a nice conversation piece, decoration or addition to a collection of flintlock arms. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: These flintlock pistols can be sold to California residents.