EXTREMELY FINE GOLD AND SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BELT PISTOL BY JOSEPH COOPER OF NEW YORK CITY.

EXTREMELY FINE GOLD AND SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BELT PISTOL BY JOSEPH COOPER OF NEW YORK CITY. SN NSN. Cal. 40 with 8 groove rifling. This fine pistol by Joseph Cooper (working on Broadway, New York City, between 1831 – 1851), has 6″ octagonal Damascus bbl with 2-1/2″ under-rib, and is engraved “Joseph Cooper, New York” on top flat with inset GOLD barleycorn bead front sight. Under-rib is mounted with silver thimble having beaded ends, mounting ebony ramrod with brass tip, and steel tail with sugar-devil wad-puller. Patent breech has GOLD blow-out and one broad, two narrow GOLD bands surrounding scroll engraving on flats. There are no proof marks or numbers on bbl or breech. Breech iron with integrally filed fence and V-notch rear sight extends 2/3 of the way over grip, and is engraved with very well cut flowing shaded open scroll. Island bar lock with broad round-faced tall serpentine hammer is beautifully made with highly polished internals and detent in tumbler. Lockplate is engraved with very finely cut flowing scroll with “Joseph Cooper” in riband. Hammer is engraved with matching scroll with stylized dolphin head. Dense American walnut stock has checkered bag grip having silver cap box with scroll engraved hinged GOLD lid on butt. Trigger guard with nicely filed finial and belt hook/ escutcheon with scrolled return, are of un-hallmarked silver and are finely scroll engraved. Fore-cap, thimble, and shield shaped crest plate on left side of stock are also of silver. Stock attaches to bbl with captive broad side nail through oval GOLD escutcheons. Mr. Howard’s notes indicate that he acquired this item from Floyd Everhart in 1992. Mr. Howard’s notes indicate that only two were ever made, the other is in the Duke University museum. PROVENANCE: Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains most of a pleasing brown, with good definition to Damascus pattern, but is probably an old refinish done during the time of orig use over some pitting. Lockplate retains 80 – 90% orig case hardening color, silvering at front and back, but quite vivid under orig varnish. Hammer retains most of its orig color, silvered on body and head. Patent breech and breech iron retain a considerable amount of their orig color. Stock retains most of what appears to be its orig finish, with possibly a bit of oil rubbed in over the years. All edges are sharp, but darkened from finish loss. Silver furniture is toned very pleasingly to a dark blue. Gold is slightly toned. Bore is excellent, bright and shiny. Lock is crisp. Ramrod is excellent. A truly exceptional piece, rivaling London quality. 4-45500-1 MGM34 (4,000-8,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	1767	$10,350.00	EXTREMELY FINE GOLD AND SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BELT PISTOL BY JOSEPH COOPER OF NEW YORK CITY. SN NSN. Cal. 40 with 8 groove rifling. This fine pistol by Joseph Cooper (working on Broadway, New York City, between 1831 – 1851), has 6″ octagonal Damascus bbl with 2-1/2″ under-rib, and is engraved “Joseph Cooper, New York” on top flat with inset GOLD barleycorn bead front sight. Under-rib is mounted with silver thimble having beaded ends, mounting ebony ramrod with brass tip, and steel tail with sugar-devil wad-puller. Patent breech has GOLD blow-out and one broad, two narrow GOLD bands surrounding scroll engraving on flats. There are no proof marks or numbers on bbl or breech. Breech iron with integrally filed fence and V-notch rear sight extends 2/3 of the way over grip, and is engraved with very well cut flowing shaded open scroll. Island bar lock with broad round-faced tall serpentine hammer is beautifully made with highly polished internals and detent in tumbler. Lockplate is engraved with very finely cut flowing scroll with “Joseph Cooper” in riband. Hammer is engraved with matching scroll with stylized dolphin head. Dense American walnut stock has checkered bag grip having silver cap box with scroll engraved hinged GOLD lid on butt. Trigger guard with nicely filed finial and belt hook/ escutcheon with scrolled return, are of un-hallmarked silver and are finely scroll engraved. Fore-cap, thimble, and shield shaped crest plate on left side of stock are also of silver. Stock attaches to bbl with captive broad side nail through oval GOLD escutcheons. Mr. Howard’s notes indicate that he acquired this item from Floyd Everhart in 1992. Mr. Howard’s notes indicate that only two were ever made, the other is in the Duke University museum. PROVENANCE: Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains most of a pleasing brown, with good definition to Damascus pattern, but is probably an old refinish done during the time of orig use over some pitting. Lockplate retains 80 – 90% orig case hardening color, silvering at front and back, but quite vivid under orig varnish. Hammer retains most of its orig color, silvered on body and head. Patent breech and breech iron retain a considerable amount of their orig color. Stock retains most of what appears to be its orig finish, with possibly a bit of oil rubbed in over the years. All edges are sharp, but darkened from finish loss. Silver furniture is toned very pleasingly to a dark blue. Gold is slightly toned. Bore is excellent, bright and shiny. Lock is crisp. Ramrod is excellent. A truly exceptional piece, rivaling London quality. 4-45500-1 MGM34 (4,000-8,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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