Bloomfield Auctions
Lot 5
George Turner of Dublin A Pair of Irish 22-Bore Target Pistols by G. Turner, Dublin, c.1812. Sighted 9.3” octagonal Damascus barrels of 0.590” bore, adjustable dovetailed foresights, signed ‘G. TURNER, DUBLIN’ on top of barrel and stamped with the Irish censuses DC6346 & DC6347, case-hardened 0.68” breeches with gold lined vent and 3 breech lines, the breech tang with adjustable rear-sight, chisel engraved with scrolls & trophy. The bevel edged stepped locks decorated with fern border, trophy, signed ‘TURNER’, starburst to rear steps, fern bordered ‘French’ flint-cocks, bolted safeties, gold lined rainproof pan and frizzen rollers. Saw-handled half-stocks in walnut with grooved top, silver fore-ends, chequered grips, flat steel fern bordered butt-caps with fern leaf decorations within, silver wedge plates, vacant silver escutcheons to the left, spurred t/guards with ornate pineapple finials and fern bordered bows and brass tipped ramrods (one with worm). 16” overall. Both GWO. In original brass mounted mahogany case with pull-up brass carry handle with owner’s name inscribed. Lined in green baize, accessories include clearing/loading rod, powder flask, balls, pincer mould, patches, pan brush & turn screw. Leslie Martin Additional Notes: This pair are an enigma, probably more due to the clients wishes than to George Turner's! Their build date has to be between 1810 & 1815 as: (1) 'French' cock only introduced c.1810. (2) Rounded lock plate rear only used c. 1815 on. But retro features are (1) high point chequering (out of style by 1805). (2) gold vent & lines (out of style by 1807). (3) silver fore-end (out of style, along with silver furniture, by 1800). Supporting the date: (1) 3 lines of breech decoration (although Fowler used this since 1800) (2) unlifted rainproof (& spoon shaped) gold lined pan. (3) c. 8 other pre-1800 dating 'duelling' factors. These have the feeling of 'jewellery'* as ordered by an English(?) client who specified safeties, gold vent & lines + silver fore-end, against the Irish trend at that time. Effectiveness (other than the contentious safety!!!!?) is not compromised; breech is Nock Patent, and locks detente. Lack of set trigger (in my opinion!) supports the effectiveness of no practical value with a heavy barrelled dueller. (Though interesting to note use of set trigger in perc 'duellers' late 1820s to c. 1840. But was this a recognition that these were now target pistols rather than duellers?) *But why blank escutcheon? W.L.M. 2/2/09 (2009). Bottom line/Conclusion confer date on 'New factors rather than old. Reason: the new can't pre-invent themselves, whereas the old guard could have dragged themselves on 5/10/maybe 15 years? [Was the change in Society following the Union an influencing factor - or did G.B. makers follow suit?]
