FINE HIGH QUALITY PAIR OF JAMES HASLETT (BALTIMORE) SAW-HANDLED FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS WITH CASE AND SOME ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES.

SN NSN. Cal. .557 Bore diameter. James Haslett has often been noted as “the finest gunsmith working in America at the time”. He came to America from Ireland in about 1798 after apprenticing (in his words) to “one of the first gunmakers in Europe”. Upon arriving in America he was superintendent of the arms factory of Robert McCormick of Philadelphia, who had a government contract for 1798 muskets. He moved to Baltimore around 1803, and first advertised in the Baltimore Gazette on June 3, 1803. He moved to other premises in 1804, but then purchased his first property, and opened a shop at “The Sign of the Golden Gun” in 1805, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. His advertisements list an assortment of “double and single guns and dueling pistols, both of his own, and London manufacture”. These particular pistols, most likely made in the early 1820’s, in classic saw-handle style, with their long sighting plane, have 10″ tapered octagon twist steel bbls fitted with silver barleycorn front sights. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with “P” & “V” crowned proofs, along with large letter “P” toward under ribs, fitted with single beaded ramrod pipes. Patent breeches are of Nock’s central fire type, and have platinum lined touch holes. Tops of breeches have inlaid silver bands either side of sunken oval gold poincons marked “HASLETT” “BALTIMORE”. Bottoms of breeches are stamped “28”. Foliate engraved breech irons have dovetailed-in large U-notch rear sights each with circular lower aperture for drawing extra fine bead. High quality locks with flat plates have teats at tails and are fitted with late style waterproof gold-lined pans, bridled frizzens, frizzen springs with rollers, sliding half cock safeties, and chamfered serpentine reinforced cocks with reinforces that extend to stops under bottom jaws which engage rear fences. Locks are engraved with line borders, foliate highlights, and drums, clubs, and other arms toward rears. Oval gold poincons matching those on breeches, are under pans. Triggers with rounded finger blades, are set, and have capstan type adjustment screws at fronts. Steel trigger guards have stylized pineapple finials with drum, shield, and foliate engraving on bows with finger spurs at rears. American walnut half stocks with silver forend caps, are of saw-handle design. Checkering wraps completely around slightly flared grips with inlet steel caps. Vacant silver shield crest plates are on left sides of stocks. Stocks mount to bbls with slotted side nails through oval silver escutcheons (retaining pins missing). Thimbles are of nicely filed steel. Orig trumpet shaped walnut ramrods have horn tips, one rod with steel worm for patches, etc, and the other with brass end with ball worm under cap. Pistols are housed in later period (early Victorian ?) but still probably within time of use, black patterned leather covered case with pivoting steel hook closure, and key lock. Case is lined in dark green velvet, and has circular impressed decoration at borders and around depressions in bottom portion, french fitted to pistols and accessories. Accessories include fine turned American walnut patch bottle, which contains some patches, old lead balls, and two spare flints, as well as the orig key to this case. Other American walnut accessories include a loading rod, and cleaning rod with brass jag, both with bulbous knobs. Also included is a fine polished steel nutcracker type ball mold, nicely file decorated around pouring hole, a sliding brass powder measure, an unmarked, but high quality green morocco leather covered powder flask, and a walnut handled turnscrew. PROVENANCE: “The set was consigned to the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, MD by the descendants of the original owner sometime during the 1970’s. They sold the set to collector/ dealer Tom Seymour, who also owned the Renwick/ Haslett set of dueling pistols. Mr. Seymour sold this set to renowned collector Charles DuPont on Sept 16 1978, as noted on his inventory card. In 2009 he consigned the set along with several other guns to John Gangel for private sale only who subsequently sold this set to collector Greg Lampe.” 3 ring notebook with consignors descriptions, photographs, etc. including considerable information on James Haslett with magazine articles about his life and times, as well as other known Haslett firearms including another pair of dueling pistols which sold for $195,000.00. CONDITION: Fine. Metal parts mostly a lightly cleaned and maintained silver gray to brown patina. Bbls have traces of twist pattern still visible, and with a considerable amount of blue remaining on trigger guards. Stocks retain most of their orig varnish finish, grain somewhat raised, oil darkening around locks, and areas where rubbed through, and with a number of marks and light scratches associated with normal use. Although termed “dueling pistols”, it is certain that any gentleman while venturing forth on horseback, carried his pistols in saddle holsters, ready for any eventuality, where they would be exposed to the weather. This explains the many sets of “dueling pistols” showing signs of daily maintenance. Bores are very fine, lightly frosted toward muzzles. Locks and frizzens are crisp. One trigger will “set”, the other is quite light and needs adjustment. Exterior case leather has some cracks, and numerous marks and scrapes. Interior cloth is very fine with some compressions. Accessories are very fine to excellent. A truly fine pair of iconic American duelers. 50173-1 MGM247 (30,000-55,000) – Lot 2272

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - March 2016

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2272	$28,750.00	FINE HIGH QUALITY PAIR OF JAMES HASLETT (BALTIMORE) SAW-HANDLED FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS WITH CASE AND SOME ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES. SN NSN. Cal. .557 Bore diameter. James Haslett has often been noted as “the finest gunsmith working in America at the time”. He came to America from Ireland in about 1798 after apprenticing (in his words) to “one of the first gunmakers in Europe”. Upon arriving in America he was superintendent of the arms factory of Robert McCormick of Philadelphia, who had a government contract for 1798 muskets. He moved to Baltimore around 1803, and first advertised in the Baltimore Gazette on June 3, 1803. He moved to other premises in 1804, but then purchased his first property, and opened a shop at “The Sign of the Golden Gun” in 1805, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. His advertisements list an assortment of “double and single guns and dueling pistols, both of his own, and London manufacture”. These particular pistols, most likely made in the early 1820’s, in classic saw-handle style, with their long sighting plane, have 10″ tapered octagon twist steel bbls fitted with silver barleycorn front sights. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with “P” & “V” crowned proofs, along with large letter “P” toward under ribs, fitted with single beaded ramrod pipes. Patent breeches are of Nock’s central fire type, and have platinum lined touch holes. Tops of breeches have inlaid silver bands either side of sunken oval gold poincons marked “HASLETT” “BALTIMORE”. Bottoms of breeches are stamped “28”. Foliate engraved breech irons have dovetailed-in large U-notch rear sights each with circular lower aperture for drawing extra fine bead. High quality locks with flat plates have teats at tails and are fitted with late style waterproof gold-lined pans, bridled frizzens, frizzen springs with rollers, sliding half cock safeties, and chamfered serpentine reinforced cocks with reinforces that extend to stops under bottom jaws which engage rear fences. Locks are engraved with line borders, foliate highlights, and drums, clubs, and other arms toward rears. Oval gold poincons matching those on breeches, are under pans. Triggers with rounded finger blades, are set, and have capstan type adjustment screws at fronts. Steel trigger guards have stylized pineapple finials with drum, shield, and foliate engraving on bows with finger spurs at rears. American walnut half stocks with silver forend caps, are of saw-handle design. Checkering wraps completely around slightly flared grips with inlet steel caps. Vacant silver shield crest plates are on left sides of stocks. Stocks mount to bbls with slotted side nails through oval silver escutcheons (retaining pins missing). Thimbles are of nicely filed steel. Orig trumpet shaped walnut ramrods have horn tips, one rod with steel worm for patches, etc, and the other with brass end with ball worm under cap. Pistols are housed in later period (early Victorian ?) but still probably within time of use, black patterned leather covered case with pivoting steel hook closure, and key lock. Case is lined in dark green velvet, and has circular impressed decoration at borders and around depressions in bottom portion, french fitted to pistols and accessories. Accessories include fine turned American walnut patch bottle, which contains some patches, old lead balls, and two spare flints, as well as the orig key to this case. Other American walnut accessories include a loading rod, and cleaning rod with brass jag, both with bulbous knobs. Also included is a fine polished steel nutcracker type ball mold, nicely file decorated around pouring hole, a sliding brass powder measure, an unmarked, but high quality green morocco leather covered powder flask, and a walnut handled turnscrew. PROVENANCE: “The set was consigned to the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, MD by the descendants of the original owner sometime during the 1970’s. They sold the set to collector/ dealer Tom Seymour, who also owned the Renwick/ Haslett set of dueling pistols. Mr. Seymour sold this set to renowned collector Charles DuPont on Sept 16 1978, as noted on his inventory card. In 2009 he consigned the set along with several other guns to John Gangel for private sale only who subsequently sold this set to collector Greg Lampe.” 3 ring notebook with consignors descriptions, photographs, etc. including considerable information on James Haslett with magazine articles about his life and times, as well as other known Haslett firearms including another pair of dueling pistols which sold for $195,000.00. CONDITION: Fine. Metal parts mostly a lightly cleaned and maintained silver gray to brown patina. Bbls have traces of twist pattern still visible, and with a considerable amount of blue remaining on trigger guards. Stocks retain most of their orig varnish finish, grain somewhat raised, oil darkening around locks, and areas where rubbed through, and with a number of marks and light scratches associated with normal use. Although termed “dueling pistols”, it is certain that any gentleman while venturing forth on horseback, carried his pistols in saddle holsters, ready for any eventuality, where they would be exposed to the weather. This explains the many sets of “dueling pistols” showing signs of daily maintenance. Bores are very fine, lightly frosted toward muzzles. Locks and frizzens are crisp. One trigger will “set”, the other is quite light and needs adjustment. Exterior case leather has some cracks, and numerous marks and scrapes. Interior cloth is very fine with some compressions. Accessories are very fine to excellent. A truly fine pair of iconic American duelers. 50173-1 MGM247 (30,000-55,000) – Lot 2272 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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FINE HIGH QUALITY PAIR OF JAMES HASLETT (BALTIMORE) SAW-HANDLED FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS WITH CASE AND SOME ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES.