UNUSUAL CASED 4-PIECE GARNITURE OF GAUVAIN PERCUSSION PISTOLS.

UNUSUAL CASED 4-PIECE GARNITURE OF GAUVAIN PERCUSSION PISTOLS. SN NSN. Bore Diameters: .475 Target pistols/ .448 Muff pistols. This cased set contains a pair of target pistols, a pair of screw barrel muff pistols, as well as loading and cleaning equipment. Target pistols have 10″ octagonal Damascus bbls engraved “Gauvain a’ Paris” on top flats, and have multi-groove rifling. Patent breeches with snail filed nipple bases are scroll engraved and numbered “3” and “4”. Matching breech irons with inset rear sight blades are likewise numbered and engraved. Elliptically shaped island locks have rebated tails, and are fitted with flat bodied percussion hammers with chamfered heads. Locks and hammers are engraved with nicely cut open scroll with floral highlights. Pattern of engraving is matched in style, but is somewhat different on each gun. Spurred steel trigger guards are also engraved and mount into trigger plates with shaped finials. Ebony stocks have long fluted butts terminating in faceted steel grip caps with turned finials. Fore-pieces have relief acanthus carving. Stocks mount to bbls with side nails through oval German silver escutcheons. There are no provisions for ramrods. Muff pistols have 3″ screw-off round bbls with multi-groove rifling and are also engraved “Gauvain a’ Paris”. Boxlock breeches have folding spur triggers and round bodied broad serpentine hammers. Engraving is of open scroll. Stocks with fluted butts are of ebony with steel caps. Nos. “1” and “2” are stamped into tops of breeches to the left of nipples. All four pistols are housed in dovetailed hardwood case. Top is veneered with quartered oak, and a brass rectangle with cut-out corners is inlet into the center, and engraved “Borlet Francois A’ Geneve”. Case is lined with red velvet with green velvet trim surrounding French fitted pockets for guns and accessories. Accessories include steel bullet mold for each type of pistol, loading hammer and screw driver with ebonized handles, steel loading rod and another ebony cleaning rod with brass tip and ivory head. Other accessories include ebonized patchbox, 16 ga. wad cutter, and small brass topped copper flask embossed with eagle motif. PROVENANCE: “Visa” or “passport” for Borlet Francois from mid-1800’s. Key to case. CONDITION: Good. Metal parts have been polished to bright. Bbls have been re-browned and show some pattern. Stocks show considerable wear, refinishing, repairs, and edges are slightly rounded. Bores are good with strong rifling. Locks are crisp. Case is fine, as is interior cloth. All French fitting is in good order. Wooden accessories show refinishing. Molds are good. Wad cutter has been cut down to fit recess, and is still not quite right. Flask is good. 4-38861 MGM123 (5,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2303	$7,475.00	UNUSUAL CASED 4-PIECE GARNITURE OF GAUVAIN PERCUSSION PISTOLS. SN NSN. Bore Diameters: .475 Target pistols/ .448 Muff pistols. This cased set contains a pair of target pistols, a pair of screw barrel muff pistols, as well as loading and cleaning equipment. Target pistols have 10″ octagonal Damascus bbls engraved “Gauvain a’ Paris” on top flats, and have multi-groove rifling. Patent breeches with snail filed nipple bases are scroll engraved and numbered “3” and “4”. Matching breech irons with inset rear sight blades are likewise numbered and engraved. Elliptically shaped island locks have rebated tails, and are fitted with flat bodied percussion hammers with chamfered heads. Locks and hammers are engraved with nicely cut open scroll with floral highlights. Pattern of engraving is matched in style, but is somewhat different on each gun. Spurred steel trigger guards are also engraved and mount into trigger plates with shaped finials. Ebony stocks have long fluted butts terminating in faceted steel grip caps with turned finials. Fore-pieces have relief acanthus carving. Stocks mount to bbls with side nails through oval German silver escutcheons. There are no provisions for ramrods. Muff pistols have 3″ screw-off round bbls with multi-groove rifling and are also engraved “Gauvain a’ Paris”. Boxlock breeches have folding spur triggers and round bodied broad serpentine hammers. Engraving is of open scroll. Stocks with fluted butts are of ebony with steel caps. Nos. “1” and “2” are stamped into tops of breeches to the left of nipples. All four pistols are housed in dovetailed hardwood case. Top is veneered with quartered oak, and a brass rectangle with cut-out corners is inlet into the center, and engraved “Borlet Francois A’ Geneve”. Case is lined with red velvet with green velvet trim surrounding French fitted pockets for guns and accessories. Accessories include steel bullet mold for each type of pistol, loading hammer and screw driver with ebonized handles, steel loading rod and another ebony cleaning rod with brass tip and ivory head. Other accessories include ebonized patchbox, 16 ga. wad cutter, and small brass topped copper flask embossed with eagle motif. PROVENANCE: “Visa” or “passport” for Borlet Francois from mid-1800’s. Key to case. CONDITION: Good. Metal parts have been polished to bright. Bbls have been re-browned and show some pattern. Stocks show considerable wear, refinishing, repairs, and edges are slightly rounded. Bores are good with strong rifling. Locks are crisp. Case is fine, as is interior cloth. All French fitting is in good order. Wooden accessories show refinishing. Molds are good. Wad cutter has been cut down to fit recess, and is still not quite right. Flask is good. 4-38861 MGM123 (5,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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