A CASED PAIR OF 22-BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS

BY H.W. MORTIMER & CO., LONDON, CIRCA 1800

Details

A CASED PAIR OF 22-BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS
BY H.W. MORTIMER & CO., LONDON, CIRCA 1800
With browned twist swamped octagonal barrels each signed 'H.W. MORTIMER & CO. LONDON GUN MAKERS TO HIS MAJESTY' in two lines towards the breech and decorated with a gold-inlaid line at the breech, brass fore-sights, one pistol with rear-sight of one standing and one folding leaf (missing from the other pistol), patent breeches each decorated with a gold-inlaid line and trophy of arms, gold-lined touch-holes, border engraved tangs each decorated with gold-inlaid foliage and a small martial trophy, signed engraved flat bevelled detented bolted locks each with stepped tail, gold-lined rainproof pan and roller (one lock with damaged steel and incomplete mainspring), figured walnut half-stocks (small insert repair to the underside of one stock) each with chequered butt and carved spirally fluted pommel, set triggers (one at fault), engraved blued iron mounts including spurred trigger-guards each with pineapple finial, silver shield-shaped escutcheons each engraved with a crest, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons and fore-end caps, and original horn-tipped ramrods, one with worm, the barrels, breeches, locks and mounts each retaining some faded original finish (some scattered light surface corrosion throughout), London proof marks, in original lined and fitted mahogany case with some accessories including correct loading cleaning rod and iron pincer-type bullet-mould, the lid with later D. Egg trade label, the exterior with flush-fitting circular brass escutcheon engraved with a matching crest and initials (case damaged around lock, label peeling, some wear to lining, one compartment lid lifting-ring missing)
10½in. (26.2cm.) barrels (2)

Lot Essay

The crest and initials are those of Arthur Macnamara (1783-1851) of Llangoed Castle, Brecon and Caddington Hall, Bedfordshire. Following education at Westminster School and Trinity College Cambridge he joined the 4th (Queen's Own) Dragoons as a Cornet on 6th February 1806. He was a Justice of the Peace and became High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1841
These pistols are of a very similar form to the pair made for Rufus King, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Great Britain. As the representative of the American Government in London he commissioned a group of ornate firearms from H.W. Mortimer & Co. in January 1801 that were to be presented to the Bey of Tunis following a treaty signed in 1799 protecting American shipping along the African coast. See H. Lee Munson, The Mortimer Gunmakers 1753-1923, pp. 167-171

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