Lot Essay
It is estimated that Boutet made about two-hundred pistols of this type.
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PARIS CONTRÔLE MARK FOR 1798-1809, MAKER'S MARK OF NICOLAS BOUTET, IN A LOZENGE NB, A PISTOL BETWEEN, NO. 188, CIRCA 1804-09
Details
A RARE PAIR OF FRENCH FIRST EMPIRE REGULATION SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS FOR A GENERAL OFFICER, MODÈLE VENDEMIAIRE AN XII, BY BOUTET, MANUFRE IMPELE À VERSAILLES
Paris contrôle mark for 1798-1809, maker's mark of Nicolas Boutet, in a lozenge NB, a pistol between, No. 188, circa 1804-09
With signed swamped octagonal sighted barrels decorated with punched and gilt bands at the breeches and muzzles, struck with a series of gilt control and maker's stamps together with that of the barrelsmith, Jean Leclerc (Neue Støckel 95 and 3741), multi groove rifled bores, signed plain bevelled locks, pale walnut full stocks, chequered butts each with regulation silver domed oval pommel-cap decorated with a winged Medusa mask cast in relief on a punched 'fish-roe' ground, plain iron mounts of regulation pattern, and horn tipped wooden ramrods (the barrels and locks with light wear and small patches of very light pitting, one fore-end repaired).
14in (35.5cm) (2)
Paris contrôle mark for 1798-1809, maker's mark of Nicolas Boutet, in a lozenge NB, a pistol between, No. 188, circa 1804-09
With signed swamped octagonal sighted barrels decorated with punched and gilt bands at the breeches and muzzles, struck with a series of gilt control and maker's stamps together with that of the barrelsmith, Jean Leclerc (Neue Støckel 95 and 3741), multi groove rifled bores, signed plain bevelled locks, pale walnut full stocks, chequered butts each with regulation silver domed oval pommel-cap decorated with a winged Medusa mask cast in relief on a punched 'fish-roe' ground, plain iron mounts of regulation pattern, and horn tipped wooden ramrods (the barrels and locks with light wear and small patches of very light pitting, one fore-end repaired).
14
Literature
Laurent Mirouze, Les Pistolets d'Officiers Generaux 'a tete de Meduse;, Tradition magazine, Nos. 25 and 29, 1989.
Special notice
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