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Lot 392

A Rare Pair Of 18-Bore Over-And-Under Flintlock Holster Pistols
By James Barbar, London, Circa 1765

6 April 2006, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £5,280 inc. premium

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A Rare Pair Of 18-Bore Over-And-Under Flintlock Holster Pistols
By James Barbar, London, Circa 1765

With two-stage barrels, the upper one sighted (fore-sight replaced) and signed at the breech, the lower one engraved 'London', the back of each breech engraved with a band of foliage, foliate engraved tangs each secured by two screws, right- and left-hand locks each with external mainsprings and signed border engraved rounded tail, moulded figured butts (one expertly replaced) each carved in relief with a shell behind the barrel tang, engraved iron trigger-guards each with small acorn finial, border engraved steel spurred pommels each decorated with foliage on both sides and with silver grotesque mask cap, vacant silver foliate escutcheons each with a shell above, and original horn-tipped iron-mounted ramrods (some wear overall, engraving refreshed), London proof marks and maker's mark
22.9 cm. barrels

Footnotes

James 1 Barbar, son of Lewis, was apprenticed to his father in 1714, free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1722, and elected Master in 1742. Appointed Gentleman Armourer to King George II in 1741, he died in 1773

For two similar pairs sold from the W. Keith Neal Collection see Christies London, Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection 8 November 1995, lot 272, and 9 November 2000, lot 242

Additional information

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