A Fine Cased Pair Of 32-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistols

A Fine Cased Pair Of 32-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistols By Jas. Wilkinson, London, Gun-Maker To His Majesty, No. 929 For 1814 With browned twist heavy octagonal barrels each signed in full in capitals along the top flat and with silver fore-sight, case-hardened breeches each with two gold lines and platinum-lined touch-hole, the breech screws each engraved with a flower-head, case-hardened tangs each with back-sight and decorated with a martial trophy and foliage, border engraved case-hardened flat bevelled detented locks each signed in capitals and decorated with a martial trophy forward of the stepped tail and with palm leaves behind the semi-rainproof pan, foliate engraved pierced cocks each with safety-catch behind, and blued steel springs each with roller, figured half-stocks each with silver fore-end cap and chequered grip with ovoidal pommel, blued steel trigger-guards and turned rear ramrod-pipes, the former each with pineapple finial and decorated with a martial trophy on the spurred border engraved bow, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons, original horn-tipped ramrods each with threaded brass cap over the worm, and retaining nearly all their original finish: in original lined and fitted mahogany case with some accessories including brass-mounted three-way powder-flask, the body covered in red leather(stained), steel bullet-mould, turnscrew, and wooden cleaning/loading rod, the interior of the lid with maker's trade label (minor damage), the exterior with circular brass escutcheon engraved with owner's crest centred on a circular flush-fitting brass carrying handle, London proof marks 22.5 cm. barrels Footnotes: Provenance Sotheby's Olympia, Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria, 30 June 2004, lot 188 James 1 Wilkinson was Henry Nock's foreman. He was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to George III in 1805 and is recorded at 17 Ludgate Hill, London between 1806 and 1817, and at 12 Ludgate Hill between 1819 and 1828. He died in 1848 at the age of ninety The crest appears to be that of Alexander Nowell (1761-1842) of Underley Park, Kerby Lonsdale, Westmorland, who was MP for that county between 1831 and 1832. He inherited the Gawthorpe estate from his nephew Lieutenant Jean Alexander Nowell (1789-1814) of the 10th Regiment of Foot following his death as the the result of a duel in Palermo, Sicily This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing