FINE & UNUSUAL CASED PAIR OF ENGLISH PERCUSSION PISTOLS WITH RARE CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AGENT MARK, STROHECKER & EW BANK

FINE & UNUSUAL CASED PAIR OF ENGLISH PERCUSSION PISTOLS WITH RARE CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AGENT MARK, STROHECKER & EW BANK. SN 1 & 2. Cal. About 45 Smoothbore. 1840’s era pair of pistols with 8″ including breech plug, very heavy Damascus bbls, 1-1/8″ across the flats. They are marked on top flats “STROHECKER & EWBANK, CHARLESTON, S.C.” Bottom flats are marked “W. ELLIS” with what appear to be British proofs. Bbls are numbered “1” and “2” respectively. They have a short Damascus rib on the front of the bottom flat with matching brass tipped ebony ramrods with concealed worms that are missing the screw-on covers. They are mounted in nicely figured English walnut 1-pc stocks with horn tips and checkered grips with flared flat butts that have engraved German silver buttcaps. Locks are back action style and are marked on top edge of plates “STROHECKER & EWBANK”. They have blued steel trigger guards with long lower tangs and beautiful pineapple finials with decorative iron nose pipes and have sgl set triggers. Top tangs are mounted with fixed V-notch sights. Buttcaps, trigger guards, lockplates, hammers, top tangs and breech plugs are lightly engraved in foliate arabesque patterns. Stocks are secured to the bbls with a sgl wedge through oval German silver escutcheons. Accompanied by their orig oak English casing with brass medallion in the lid. Casing is green baize lined and compartmented in bottom for both pistols, an ebony handled brass & rosewood ramrod and a matching cleaning jag. Also accompanied by a nutcracker ball mold, a small pewter oil bottle dated “1849” in the covered right front compartment. Left rear compartment contains a lacquered tin of Cox’s caps. Center compartment contains a fine 3-compartment charger with powder flask in the top and ball & cap compartments in the bottom. A cursory internet search disclosed that there was a Strohecker & Ewbank Hardware Store at 155 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC, which was listed in the Charleston city directory of 1849. The names H.F. Strohecker and Henry Ewbank are also listed in the same directory with their occupation listed as “hardware store”. Also in this directory is listed J.P. Strohecker and C.C. Strohecker whose occupations are listed as “clerk” at the hardware store address. CONDITION: Very fine. Both pistols are nearly identical in condition retaining most of their brown Damascus pattern on bbls, slightly thinned on right sides at muzzles. Lockplates, hammers, breech plugs & top tangs retain dark case colors. There is a small hairline in toe of stock of #1 pistol, otherwise stocks are sound with light handling & use marks and retain most of their orig factory varnish. Set trigger on pistol #1 occasionally will malfunction, otherwise mechanics are fine. Moderately pitted bores. Both hammers with old repairs on ear. Case is sound with usual handling & storage nicks & scratches and a chip out of the top front edge and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with moderate soil in bottom with one loose divider and some repaired dividers. Flask is near new and other accessories are fine. 4-39107 JR103 (12,000-18,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2434A	$12,075.00	FINE & UNUSUAL CASED PAIR OF ENGLISH PERCUSSION PISTOLS WITH RARE CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AGENT MARK, STROHECKER & EW BANK. SN 1 & 2. Cal. About 45 Smoothbore. 1840’s era pair of pistols with 8″ including breech plug, very heavy Damascus bbls, 1-1/8″ across the flats. They are marked on top flats “STROHECKER & EWBANK, CHARLESTON, S.C.” Bottom flats are marked “W. ELLIS” with what appear to be British proofs. Bbls are numbered “1” and “2” respectively. They have a short Damascus rib on the front of the bottom flat with matching brass tipped ebony ramrods with concealed worms that are missing the screw-on covers. They are mounted in nicely figured English walnut 1-pc stocks with horn tips and checkered grips with flared flat butts that have engraved German silver buttcaps. Locks are back action style and are marked on top edge of plates “STROHECKER & EWBANK”. They have blued steel trigger guards with long lower tangs and beautiful pineapple finials with decorative iron nose pipes and have sgl set triggers. Top tangs are mounted with fixed V-notch sights. Buttcaps, trigger guards, lockplates, hammers, top tangs and breech plugs are lightly engraved in foliate arabesque patterns. Stocks are secured to the bbls with a sgl wedge through oval German silver escutcheons. Accompanied by their orig oak English casing with brass medallion in the lid. Casing is green baize lined and compartmented in bottom for both pistols, an ebony handled brass & rosewood ramrod and a matching cleaning jag. Also accompanied by a nutcracker ball mold, a small pewter oil bottle dated “1849” in the covered right front compartment. Left rear compartment contains a lacquered tin of Cox’s caps. Center compartment contains a fine 3-compartment charger with powder flask in the top and ball & cap compartments in the bottom. A cursory internet search disclosed that there was a Strohecker & Ewbank Hardware Store at 155 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC, which was listed in the Charleston city directory of 1849. The names H.F. Strohecker and Henry Ewbank are also listed in the same directory with their occupation listed as “hardware store”. Also in this directory is listed J.P. Strohecker and C.C. Strohecker whose occupations are listed as “clerk” at the hardware store address. CONDITION: Very fine. Both pistols are nearly identical in condition retaining most of their brown Damascus pattern on bbls, slightly thinned on right sides at muzzles. Lockplates, hammers, breech plugs & top tangs retain dark case colors. There is a small hairline in toe of stock of #1 pistol, otherwise stocks are sound with light handling & use marks and retain most of their orig factory varnish. Set trigger on pistol #1 occasionally will malfunction, otherwise mechanics are fine. Moderately pitted bores. Both hammers with old repairs on ear. Case is sound with usual handling & storage nicks & scratches and a chip out of the top front edge and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with moderate soil in bottom with one loose divider and some repaired dividers. Flask is near new and other accessories are fine. 4-39107 JR103 (12,000-18,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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