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Cased Pr. Flintlock Dueling Pistols, by Prosser

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Cased Pr. Flintlock Dueling Pistols, by Prosser
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Exceptionally Fine Cased Pair of Early 19th Century Flintlock Dueling Pistols, by John Prosser, made for Edward Wyer (1803), .58 cal., 9-1/2'' bright octagonal barrels with gold bands, gold touch holes, and front sight blades; lightly engraved lockplates marked ''Prosser / London'' and are fitted with hammer safeties and frizzen roller springs; both hammers and frizzens with light border detail; breech plugs and upper tangs are finely engraved with reeding, Stand of Arms, and floral design, with top barrel flats just above touch holes marked ''Made for Edward Wyer 1803''. Fine half-length saw-handled walnut stocks with coarse style pineapple checkering; silver butt caps engraved ''Prosser's Improvement'' with decorative borders and central screw areas; blank silver ovoid escutcheons to top of saw handles. Fine English blue triggerguards engraved with nicely detailed Stand of Arms, reeded edges, with forward portions engraved in a pumpkin-shaped finial. Finely swept-back forend caps exhibit sunburst motifs, as well as vine style termination to rear points. Nicely cased in an early 19th Century furniture-grade mahogany case with black cotton velveteen lining, one oiler, 24 bore bullet mold, Dixon & Sons bag flask, cleaning rod, and two compartments containing both balls and flints. Condition is excellent to both pistols, with one pistol missing the actual safety tab to the hammer lock, bluing on triggerguards has thinned to approx. 50%, and ramrods being slightly different types, one with worm end. Bottom barrel flat at breech plug with ''(crown)/V'', ''(crown)/CP'', and the number ''82'' to both pistols. Stocks show minor impressions near wedge escutcheons and very light general marks from handling. Lockplate screws to left side of both pistols with mild corrosion from storage. Interior of case with light soiling and minor impressions, but no real losses to lining. Key is missing. Exterior of case with several well-accomplished repairs, probably done during the service life of these pistols, with recessed brass Regency style pull to lid. These particular pistols may have been made for Edward Wyer (1777-1839), who entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1800 and resigned his commission in 1805. He served as U.S. Consulate to Riga, Lativa, Hamburg, Germany, and was the assistant doorkeeper of the U.S. Senate until his death. Prosser was active from about 1797-1860, having shops at several addresses throughout his career. His work is encountered with less frequency than the more well-known makers, such as Egg, Moore, and Nock, but when found, it is often of finer quality. Est.: $18,000-$24,000/pair. (Antique)