An Unusual Cased Pair Of 56-Bore Percussion Pistols

An Unusual Cased Pair Of 56-Bore Percussion Pistols By Alden & Smith, 55 Parliament St., London, Nos. 641 And 642, Circa 1830-35 With browned twist octagonal sighted barrels each signed in full along the top flat, case-hardened foliate scroll engraved patent breeches each with platinum line and engraved platinum plug, flat tangs each engraved with foliate scrollwork and with back-sight, signed border engraved case-hardened locks each with blued safety-catch, dolphin hammers decorated en suite (one hammer spur repaired), figured three-quarter stocks (minor old bruising) each with chequered rounded semi-saw-handled butt of unusual form, blued steel D-shaped spur trigger-guards each decorated with foliate scrollwork on the serial numbered bow, case-hardened pommel-caps decorated en suite, trigger-plates each with foliate engraved pineapple-shaped finial, silver escutcheons and barrel-bolt escutcheons, the former each engraved with initial 'M', a baron's coronet above, single blued turned ramrod-pipes, blued stirrup ramrods, and retaining most of their original finish: in serial numbered mahogany case fitted and lined in tooled pigskin (minor damage, one compartment lid missing) with accessories including brass-mounted three-way powder-flask, the interior of the lid with maker's trade label, the exterior with circular brass escutcheon engraved with owner's monogram 'EM', a viscount's coronet above, and centred on a flush-fitting circular brass carrying handle, London proof marks 15.3 cm. barrels Footnotes: Provenance W. Keith Neal Collection, C112 Christie's London, Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection, 25 October 2001, lot 166 Literature W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, British Gunmakers Their Cards, Cases and Equipment 1760-1860, 1980, pl. 320 Robert Alden and Thomas Smith are recorded as Gunmakers ('from J. Manton's'). They were at 9 Princes Court, Westminster, between 1826 and 1829, and 55 Parliament Street, between 1829 and 1835 Despite the serial number on the case, it seems to have been adapted, presumably by the makers, and the monogram 'EM' appears to be that of a subsequent owner This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com