BY JOSEPH EGG, NO. 1 PICCADILLY, LONDON, CIRCA 1815

Details

AN UNUSUAL CASED PAIR OF 34-BORE FLINTLOCK TRAVELLING PISTOLS
By Joseph Egg, No. 1 Piccadilly, London, circa 1815
With browned twist octagonal barrels narrowed at the breech, silver fore-sights, case-hardened tapering patent breeches signed in gold on the top flat and each with a platinum line to the rear, platinum-lined touch-holes, case-hardened tangs each engraved with a trophy and incorporating the back-sight, signed bevelled border engraved case-hardened locks each decorated with a martial trophy, and each with blued safety-catch and steel-spring, stepped tail, roller, rainproof pan set clear of the touch-hole, 'French' cock, and signed border engraved steel, figured walnut full stocks (minor bruising, one cracked), flattened chequered butts, blued iron mounts including trigger-guards each engraved with a martial trophy and with pineapple finial, silver escutcheons, brass-mounted ramrods (one with worm), and some original finish: in original lined and fitted mahogany case with accessories including three-way powder-flask covered in red leather, the lid with trade label of circa 1815-20, flush-fitting carrying handle, and circular escutcheon
10 1/8in. (25.7cm.)

Provenance

Anon. sale in these Rooms, 15 June 1977, lot 142

Literature

Jonathan Barrett, 'Six Oddities of English Flintlock Construction', Art, Arms and Armour (R. Held edit.), 1979-80, pp. 394-396, plates 4-6

W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment, plate 352

Special notice

This lot has no reserve No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The purpose of the pans set clear of the touch-holes is unclear. It has been suggested that they were intended for a secret priming powder of Joseph Egg's own invention, but experiments are said to have failed to make the pistols go off. A pair of pistols with similar pans was sold from the collection of the late A.R. Dufty, formerly Master of the Armouries, H.M. Tower of London, in these Rooms, 26 October 1994, lot 234

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