VERY FINE PAIR OF WILLIAM SMITH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS.

Revised: 3/9/2012

CORRECTION: Note: Small typo error. We misspelled the maker’s name in the catalog. The frizzen of gun #2 is marked “J.W. White Barbadoes” not “Barbados” as spelled in catalog. There is nothing wrong with the pistols – just an insignificant spelling error.

VERY FINE PAIR OF WILLIAM SMITH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS. SN 1868. (ca. 1815) Cal..625 Bore diameter smooth. A fine pair of pistols by this highly regarded maker feature 8-1/2″ octagonal twist bbls with inset steel front sights. Twist under ribs have one tapered pipe with beaded ends. Ramrods are ebonized hickory with brass tulip shaped heads, and brass tails with steel worms. Doubly inset patent breeches have platinum lined touch holes, and four platinum inlaid bands, and are engraved “William Smith Lisle St. London” on tops. Bottoms of bbls and patent breech hooks are stamped with SNs and “1” and “2” respectively. Scroll engraved breech irons have integrally filed U-notch rear sights. Exceptionally well filed locks have unique sculpted waterproof pans. Bridled frizzens engage roller frizzen springs which have large bulbous finials with small tit. Locks are fitted with French cocks and back sliding safeties that engage at half cock. Lockplates and cocks are engraved with feather borders and some scroll. Areas behind pans are engraved “Patent 883” and “Patent 884”, for guns “1” and “2” respectively. “William Smith Lisle St. London” is on each lockplate under pans. Frizzen of gun no. 2 is marked “J W White Barbados” and is a later replacement, however Mr. White was a very skilled gunsmith, and this frizzen exhibits exceptional quality, and correctly matches the shaping and venting of the original frizzen on gun no. “1”. SNs and “1” and “2” are stamped on tops of lockplates behind fences. Steel trigger plates are mounted with set triggers and terminate in stylized pineapples with unusual swirled scroll engraving. Single spurred steel trigger guards are engraved with stand-of-arms with SNs in ovals at center. Curly maple stocks have unusual wood flared butts and wrap-around squared checkering at grip. Figured maple, with a dark “ebonized” finish, was quite popular with many London gunsmiths, including Purdeys, in the early 1810’s up to about 1825. Steel tailpipes are nicely filed, and pistols feature cast silver foretips. Stocks mount to bbls with single side nails through rectangular silver escutcheons with truncated corners. Vacant rectangular crest plates are at tops of grips. Nos. “1” and “2” are in India ink at rear of bbl channel of each gun, respectively. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 80% of what appears to be orig brown, with good definition to pattern, but is possibly an old re-brown done during period of use. All other iron parts are mostly a smooth silver gray. Engraving is sharp and crisp. Stocks retain an old oil refinish, and are probably considerably lighter in color than when guns were originally made. Lockplates and breech iron tangs are slightly above wood. Checkering has been re-cut. Trigger guards and plates retain a considerable amount of a correct old charcoal blue. Bores are bright and shiny. Locks, frizzens, and set triggers are crisp. Safeties work. A best quality pair of large duelers with a Caribbean connection. 4-42667 MGM16 (7,500-12,500)

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
	2353	$13,800.00	Revised: 3/9/2012 CORRECTION: Note: Small typo error. We misspelled the maker’s name in the catalog. The frizzen of gun #2 is marked “J.W. White Barbadoes” not “Barbados” as spelled in catalog. There is nothing wrong with the pistols – just an insignificant spelling error. VERY FINE PAIR OF WILLIAM SMITH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS. SN 1868. (ca. 1815) Cal..625 Bore diameter smooth. A fine pair of pistols by this highly regarded maker feature 8-1/2″ octagonal twist bbls with inset steel front sights. Twist under ribs have one tapered pipe with beaded ends. Ramrods are ebonized hickory with brass tulip shaped heads, and brass tails with steel worms. Doubly inset patent breeches have platinum lined touch holes, and four platinum inlaid bands, and are engraved “William Smith Lisle St. London” on tops. Bottoms of bbls and patent breech hooks are stamped with SNs and “1” and “2” respectively. Scroll engraved breech irons have integrally filed U-notch rear sights. Exceptionally well filed locks have unique sculpted waterproof pans. Bridled frizzens engage roller frizzen springs which have large bulbous finials with small tit. Locks are fitted with French cocks and back sliding safeties that engage at half cock. Lockplates and cocks are engraved with feather borders and some scroll. Areas behind pans are engraved “Patent 883” and “Patent 884”, for guns “1” and “2” respectively. “William Smith Lisle St. London” is on each lockplate under pans. Frizzen of gun no. 2 is marked “J W White Barbados” and is a later replacement, however Mr. White was a very skilled gunsmith, and this frizzen exhibits exceptional quality, and correctly matches the shaping and venting of the original frizzen on gun no. “1”. SNs and “1” and “2” are stamped on tops of lockplates behind fences. Steel trigger plates are mounted with set triggers and terminate in stylized pineapples with unusual swirled scroll engraving. Single spurred steel trigger guards are engraved with stand-of-arms with SNs in ovals at center. Curly maple stocks have unusual wood flared butts and wrap-around squared checkering at grip. Figured maple, with a dark “ebonized” finish, was quite popular with many London gunsmiths, including Purdeys, in the early 1810’s up to about 1825. Steel tailpipes are nicely filed, and pistols feature cast silver foretips. Stocks mount to bbls with single side nails through rectangular silver escutcheons with truncated corners. Vacant rectangular crest plates are at tops of grips. Nos. “1” and “2” are in India ink at rear of bbl channel of each gun, respectively. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 80% of what appears to be orig brown, with good definition to pattern, but is possibly an old re-brown done during period of use. All other iron parts are mostly a smooth silver gray. Engraving is sharp and crisp. Stocks retain an old oil refinish, and are probably considerably lighter in color than when guns were originally made. Lockplates and breech iron tangs are slightly above wood. Checkering has been re-cut. Trigger guards and plates retain a considerable amount of a correct old charcoal blue. Bores are bright and shiny. Locks, frizzens, and set triggers are crisp. Safeties work. A best quality pair of large duelers with a Caribbean connection. 4-42667 MGM16 (7,500-12,500) 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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