A Pair Of East European 18-Bore Percussion Holster Pistols
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A Pair Of East European 18-Bore Percussion Holster Pistols
Early 18th Century
Converted from flintlock, with long slightly swamped russet sighted barrels each engraved 'Systerbeck' along the raised sighting flat, plain tangs, plain flat locks (one hammer missing) dating to the time of conversion, artificially moulded full stocks (one fore-end incomplete, the wood replaced around each lock) carved in low relief with foliage behind each rear ramrod-pipe and barrel tang, full cast and chased brass mounts comprising pierced foliate side-plates each centered on a portrait medallion, vacant foliate escutcheons, a small human face above, spurred faceted pommels with a trophy on each side and grotesque mask cap, and faceted trigger-guards and ramrod-pipes (some wear and rust patination overall, ramrods missing) (2)
36.4 cm. barrels
Sold for £750 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Systerbeck was part of Swedish Ingermanland which fell to Peter the Great during The Great Northern War of 1711 to 1721

    In 1738 the Swedish traveller Daniel Tilas gave a description 'of the immense works at Systerbeck in Russian Ingermanland with its seventeen workshops among which the establishment for the production of sword-blades alone took up eighteen hearths in a line'

Category: Arms and Armour

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