Lot Essay
Cf. two similar pistols sold from the W. Keith Neal Collection, Christie's, King Street, 9 November 2000, Lot 237 and 25 October 2001, Lot 231, and one in the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. no. XII. 3833).
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THE BLAIR CHARITABLE TRUST, REMOVED FROM BLAIR CASTLE, BLAIR ATHOLL, SCOTLAND
A VERY RARE PAIR OF 'FLINTLOCK' AIR PISTOLS
BY EDWARD BATE, LONDON, CIRCA 1770
Details
A VERY RARE PAIR OF 'FLINTLOCK' AIR PISTOLS
BY EDWARD BATE, LONDON, CIRCA 1770
With smoothbore brass barrels each set within a two-stage brass air reservoir, the latter sighted and signed and engraved with a band of beadwork on the rounded rear section, brass tangs each incorporating a rear sight and engraved with rococo ornament, signed flat bevelled locks each engraved with further rococo ornament, figured walnut full stocks (one fore-end chipped) each carved in low relief with a rococo shell behind the barrel-tang, cast and chased brass mounts of unusually fine quality including trophy of arms side-plates each involving differing flags, and engraved spurred pommels each with aperture for the pump, one retaining its detachable brass cap, and original horn-tipped ramrods
19 ½ in. (49.5 cm) overall
BY EDWARD BATE, LONDON, CIRCA 1770
With smoothbore brass barrels each set within a two-stage brass air reservoir, the latter sighted and signed and engraved with a band of beadwork on the rounded rear section, brass tangs each incorporating a rear sight and engraved with rococo ornament, signed flat bevelled locks each engraved with further rococo ornament, figured walnut full stocks (one fore-end chipped) each carved in low relief with a rococo shell behind the barrel-tang, cast and chased brass mounts of unusually fine quality including trophy of arms side-plates each involving differing flags, and engraved spurred pommels each with aperture for the pump, one retaining its detachable brass cap, and original horn-tipped ramrods
19 ½ in. (49.5 cm) overall
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