A CASED PAIR OF .65 PERCUSSION OFFICER'S BELT PISTOLS

SIGNED MORTIMER, LONDON, CIRCA 1840

Details

A CASED PAIR OF .65 PERCUSSION OFFICER'S BELT PISTOLS
SIGNED MORTIMER, LONDON, CIRCA 1840
With browned twist octagonal sighted barrels each signed 'LONDON' towards the breech, case-hardened engraved patent breeches each inlaid with two platinum lines, border and scroll engraved case-hardened tangs and back-action bolted locks, the former each incorporating a rear-sight, the latter each signed 'MORTIMER', figured walnut full stocks (minor cracks) each with chequered butt, border and scroll engraved iron mounts, blued iron belt-hooks, white metal escutcheons and barrel-bolt escutcheons, and stirrup ramrods (one pistol retaining much original finish with some age related wear, the other pistol partially refinished with some surface corrosion and wear), Birmingham proof marks, in an associated fitted mahogany case lined in dark green velvet with some accessories including a Frith Patent brass-mounted tin pistol-flask and an iron pincer-type bullet-mould, the lid with J. Beattie trade label for circa 1851-65, the exterior with circular brass escutcheon (central partitions loose, minor wear to lining)
9¼in. (23.5cm.) barrels

Provenance

Anon. sale, Bonhams, Oxford, 16th April 2007, lot 303

The 2007 catalogue entry notes that by family tradition these pistols were owned by Jean-Baptiste Noel Adolphe Devin and passed by descent to the vendor

Lot Essay

A note accompanying this lot states that Devin had been born in France in 1798 and served as a Lieutenant in the French infantry and took part in the Battle of Waterloo at the age of 16. Devin moved to England in 1818 where he established himself as a jeweller and travelled extensively between England and France. He remained a staunch Bonapartist, serving as a Sergent-Major in 4th Legion Garde Bationale during the 1830 revolution which returned France to a Republic, and returned to France in 1851 with the creation of the Second Empire. Devin supplied the crown jewels for the new emperor, Napoleon III, and was created Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in 1861. The note also states that the present pistols were used by Devin in a duel.

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