Lot Essay
Thomas 1 Saunders was apprenticed to Robert Silke and turned over to Thomas Austin in 1675. Free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1682, he was elected Master in 1707. He was Gunmaker to Ordnance, 1688-1715
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BY THOMAS SAUNDERS, LONDON, CIRCA 1685
Details
A PAIR OF 18-BORE FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS
By Thomas Saunders, London, circa 1685
With three-stage barrels, the breech sections octagonal then sixteen-sided, plain tangs, signed flat bevelled locks retained by three side-nails and each with stepped tail and engraved with strawberry foliage, pierced flat cocks (one mainspring replaced), moulded walnut full stocks (repaired), plain iron mounts including pierced serpentine side-plates and spurred pommels, chiselled escutcheons each surmounted by a grotesque mask, baluster ramrod-pipes, and later iron-capped wooden ramrods (some wear and surface pitting, one top jaw and screw and two side-nails replaced), London proof marks
20in. (50.8cm.) (2)
By Thomas Saunders, London, circa 1685
With three-stage barrels, the breech sections octagonal then sixteen-sided, plain tangs, signed flat bevelled locks retained by three side-nails and each with stepped tail and engraved with strawberry foliage, pierced flat cocks (one mainspring replaced), moulded walnut full stocks (repaired), plain iron mounts including pierced serpentine side-plates and spurred pommels, chiselled escutcheons each surmounted by a grotesque mask, baluster ramrod-pipes, and later iron-capped wooden ramrods (some wear and surface pitting, one top jaw and screw and two side-nails replaced), London proof marks
20in. (50.8cm.) (2)
Special notice
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