Sotheby's Olympia
Lot 1
a fine pair of flintlock duelling pistols by Jas. Wilkinson, London, Gun-Maker to His Majesty, No. 929 for 1814 with signed heavy browned twist octagonal barrels, silver fore-sights, case-hardened breeches inlaid with two gold lines and platinum-lined vents, case-hardened breech tangs cut with trophies and scrolls and fitted with blued back-sights, signed detented case- hardened locks with bevelled edges and recessed tails, engraved with trophies and scrolls at the rear and each fitted with pierced cock, safety-catch, blued steel-spring and roller, with highly figured walnut half-stocks, flattened chequered butts characteristic of the maker, engraved blued spurred trigger-guards and ramrod-pipes, the former each decorated with trophies and a pineapple finial, case-hardened trigger-plates, silver escutcheons for the barrel-bolts, silver-plated fore-end caps, original horn-tipped ramrods, and each retaining nearly all of its original finish with little evidence of use: in original lined and fitted mahogany case, the lid with Wilkinson trade label stating 'Successor & Son in Law, to the late Mr Hy. Nock's patent breeching, the exterior with brass flush-fitting carrying handle enclosing an escutcheon engraved with owner's crest, and retaining some accessories including a leather-covered three-way flask, bullet mould and cleaning rod. 38.1cm., 15 in The crest is that of Nowell
