Lot Essay
William Aston was at 30, Market Street, Manchester from 1769, becoming Aston & Son in 1797
Details
A CASED PAIR OF 20-BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS
BY WILLIAM ASTON, MANCHESTER, CIRCA 1795
With rebrowned twist octagonal sighted barrels inscribed 'Manchester' at the breech, silver fore-sights, gold-lined touch-holes, engraved tangs incorporating the back-sights, signed locks with moulded bevelled edges, stepped tails, safety-catches, rollers, and rainproof pans, figured walnut half-stocks (one fore-end bruised, the other repaired), engraved iron mounts (some light pitting) including trigger-guards each with pineapple finial and retaining some original blued finish, silver escutcheons, set triggers, horn fore-end caps, and horn-tipped ramrods each with worm: in associated mahogany case lined in green baize, Ordnance proof marks, barrelsmith's mark IB
15¾in. (40cm.)
BY WILLIAM ASTON, MANCHESTER, CIRCA 1795
With rebrowned twist octagonal sighted barrels inscribed 'Manchester' at the breech, silver fore-sights, gold-lined touch-holes, engraved tangs incorporating the back-sights, signed locks with moulded bevelled edges, stepped tails, safety-catches, rollers, and rainproof pans, figured walnut half-stocks (one fore-end bruised, the other repaired), engraved iron mounts (some light pitting) including trigger-guards each with pineapple finial and retaining some original blued finish, silver escutcheons, set triggers, horn fore-end caps, and horn-tipped ramrods each with worm: in associated mahogany case lined in green baize, Ordnance proof marks, barrelsmith's mark IB
15¾in. (40cm.)