BY DURS EGG, LONDON, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1786
Details
A Fine Pair Of 40-Bore Silver-Mounted Percussion Duelling Pistols Made For George, Prince Of Wales, Later King George IV
By Durs Egg, London, London Silver Hallmarks for 1786
Converted from flintlock, with octagonal sighted barrels each signed in gold and with gold fore-sight, and inlaid with gold at the muzzle and breech, the latter with the Prince of Wales's arms, engraved patent numbered breeches each with two gold lines and pierced platinum plug, gold-inlaid tangs each incorporating a back-sight, signed engraved detented bevelled locks each inlaid with gold and with safety-catch, figured walnut full stocks (one cracked and repaired, both fore-ends extended) inlaid with floral swags and silver wire scrolls opposite the locks, and carved with sprays of flowers and foliage in relief around the barrel tangs, chequered butts each inlaid with gold crest and motto of the Prince of Wales above an engraved iron aperture for a shoulder stock, silver mounts in the French taste comprising cast and chased trigger-guards each engraved with a martial trophy and with urn finial, butt-caps with a mounted hussar and a fallen Turk in combat, all in relief on a matted ground, and engraved silver ramrod-pipes, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons, set triggers, horn fore-end caps, and horn-tipped ramrods, one with powder measure and the other with worm, silver maker's mark of Moses Brent
15¾in. (40cm.)
These pistols are very similar to the pair formerly in the Wilfrid Ward collection (hallmarked for 1788) sold at Christie's, 27 October 1993, lot 102.
Judging by the engraving on the locks, the conversion was probably carried out in Germany by one of the Hanoverian Court gunmakers, E.A. Störmer, C.P. Crause (both of Herzberg), or C.D. Tanner (of Hanover). (2)
By Durs Egg, London, London Silver Hallmarks for 1786
Converted from flintlock, with octagonal sighted barrels each signed in gold and with gold fore-sight, and inlaid with gold at the muzzle and breech, the latter with the Prince of Wales's arms, engraved patent numbered breeches each with two gold lines and pierced platinum plug, gold-inlaid tangs each incorporating a back-sight, signed engraved detented bevelled locks each inlaid with gold and with safety-catch, figured walnut full stocks (one cracked and repaired, both fore-ends extended) inlaid with floral swags and silver wire scrolls opposite the locks, and carved with sprays of flowers and foliage in relief around the barrel tangs, chequered butts each inlaid with gold crest and motto of the Prince of Wales above an engraved iron aperture for a shoulder stock, silver mounts in the French taste comprising cast and chased trigger-guards each engraved with a martial trophy and with urn finial, butt-caps with a mounted hussar and a fallen Turk in combat, all in relief on a matted ground, and engraved silver ramrod-pipes, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons, set triggers, horn fore-end caps, and horn-tipped ramrods, one with powder measure and the other with worm, silver maker's mark of Moses Brent
15¾in. (40cm.)
These pistols are very similar to the pair formerly in the Wilfrid Ward collection (hallmarked for 1788) sold at Christie's, 27 October 1993, lot 102.
Judging by the engraving on the locks, the conversion was probably carried out in Germany by one of the Hanoverian Court gunmakers, E.A. Störmer, C.P. Crause (both of Herzberg), or C.D. Tanner (of Hanover). (2)