Details
A FINE CASED FRENCH 40-BORE PERCUSSION TARGET PISTOL
BY BOUTET ET FILS A VERSAILLES, CIRCA 1815
Converted from flintlock, with swamped octagonal polygroove rifled twist barrel signed in gold and retaining traces of blue-grey finish, with a gold band around the muzzle and inlaid with the number 1 in gold behind the blued fore-sight, the top flat with sighting groove, case-hardened patent breech, grooved polished iron tang incorporating a back-sight and minutely engraved with a swan, flowerheads, and a monstrous animal-mask, signed polished bevelled lock engraved with a hyena and with large engraved safety-catch, the hammer with a caryatid, figured walnut half-stock, chequered butt, polished steel mounts minutely engraved and including spur trigger-guard decorated with a prancing horse in a landscape, and side-plate decorated with confronted winged dragons, ebony butt-cap carved in relief with berries, fluted steel pommel, gold escutcheon and barrel-bolt escutcheons, and chequered set trigger (minor pitting on barrel and mounts): in fitted self-locking thuya wood case (probably by Le Page) lined in green velvet, with accessories, and interchangeable barrel numbered 2, the lid inlaid with oval escutcheon engraved with a crest, a ram's head, and the initials CB
15¼in.
BY BOUTET ET FILS A VERSAILLES, CIRCA 1815
Converted from flintlock, with swamped octagonal polygroove rifled twist barrel signed in gold and retaining traces of blue-grey finish, with a gold band around the muzzle and inlaid with the number 1 in gold behind the blued fore-sight, the top flat with sighting groove, case-hardened patent breech, grooved polished iron tang incorporating a back-sight and minutely engraved with a swan, flowerheads, and a monstrous animal-mask, signed polished bevelled lock engraved with a hyena and with large engraved safety-catch, the hammer with a caryatid, figured walnut half-stock, chequered butt, polished steel mounts minutely engraved and including spur trigger-guard decorated with a prancing horse in a landscape, and side-plate decorated with confronted winged dragons, ebony butt-cap carved in relief with berries, fluted steel pommel, gold escutcheon and barrel-bolt escutcheons, and chequered set trigger (minor pitting on barrel and mounts): in fitted self-locking thuya wood case (probably by Le Page) lined in green velvet, with accessories, and interchangeable barrel numbered 2, the lid inlaid with oval escutcheon engraved with a crest, a ram's head, and the initials CB
15¼in.