check out these french/belgim made dueling pistols

[oldarmy]

:grin:
A friend showed up today. I have been helping him learn to reload centerfire ammo and he had this case with this matched pair of pistols, said he grandfather gave them to him. the hammer tips are broken off :cursing: :cursing:
He said he is responsible for that.
The pictures do not do them justice, They are simple beautiful. He is looking for any info about them.
I just liked looking at them :thumbsup:

 

[oldarmy]

I forgot to add.
they are heavley engraved, even the screw heads are engraved and the screws are in great shape, not bunged up. Looks like steel furniture or maybe german silver
Tip out breach and the cal is has to be .50 cal. one mold for round ball the other a conical.
Damacas barrels, nipples are in great shape :winking: :winking:
the top of the barrels are signed, but the picture didn't come out very well.
I would say mid 1800's belgium or french

 

[Tight_Wad]

Absolutely beautiful! Reminds me of the Pedersoli 'Mang in Graz' repro pistol. Great to have them in such a nice case too. Are they a numbered pair - ie 1 & 2? Rifled or smoothbore?

How did your friend manage to break off the hammer tips?

Tight Wad

 

[patch knife]

Very nice ! I'm drolling on my shirt . Wish I had a grandfather like his . Too bad about the hammers , I'm sure he's still kicking himself in the butt .

 

[arilar]

the top of the barrels are signed,

Can you tell what is signed on the barrel? Would be of great value when seeking info. Liege-stamps underneath the barrels??
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[TFoley]

They are not duelling pistols but a pair of gentleman's travelling pistols. The barrels are at least two inches too short for duelling weapons.

The hammers appear to have been broken off from repeated dry-firing, and will have reduced the value of these lovely pistols by about 25%. Here in UK we have craftsmen who can either replace them or repair them - but it will not be cheap. I am equally sure that there are craftsmen in the USA who can do the same.

At the moment they are in desperate need of a wipe over with an oily rag - they appear to be as dry as dust. So too does the wood appear totally dry and in need of a good wax polish.

Depending on who made them - they appear to be in the style of LePage, but sadly the name is not totally readable - here in UK with intact hammers they would sell for anything between $2500 and $5000.

tac

 

[spitfire]

Sweet Pistols and thanks for posting :thumbsup: !

 

[oldarmy]

They haven't been dry fired at all. the nipples are still in great shape. Look brand new.
The owner broke off the tips while playing with them as a child. His granfather thought it was funny watching him run around with them playing treasure island.
I swear that's what he told me.
They are .50 cal and have a hooked breach, they are in practaly new shape.
The case is the oringaial case, however there was a crest that was inlayed in it that is now missing
I didn't see any numbers on them.
They are signed on the top of the barrels in a nice script.
the picture didn't come out. I need to use a cryon or something to make it come out.
Anyway.
the work on the butts of the pistols is just amazing work.
The name appers to be French. I think the proff marks are belgim

 

[TFoley]

Let's see the proof marks, please, and we can quickly ascertain that they are in fact, Belgian. And note that Belgian-made guns WILL be marked in French - Liege, the centre of Belgian gun-making for hundreds of years, is in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

Best wishes

tac

 

[oldarmy]

tac,
I will try to get the pics of the prof marks.
What do they use? soap stone to bring out the marks on the barrels?
The gentalman that owns these did oil them and put a lite coat of wood oil/wax on them.
I told hin what you said,
He wants to sell them, he is not a collector. when I mentioned what they were worth he was very interested.
You should see them for sale in a few weeks.