3575

FINE CONDITION PAIR OF EBONY STOCKED PERCUSSION

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,500.00 USD Estimated At:11,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
FINE CONDITION PAIR OF EBONY STOCKED PERCUSSION

TARGET PISTOLS BY DEVISME OF PARIS WITH CASE & ACCESSORIES. Cal. 48. NSN. F. P. Devisme was working at 26 Boulevart Des Italians after about 1850. These high quality & finely appointed pistols have blued 10" rifled octagon bbls. engraved "Devisme a Paris" on top flats with associated inlay of silver accented scroll. There are bands of silver inlaid scroll at muzzles. Patent breeches are very nicely filed & engraved with near full coverage well cut open shaded scroll. This engraving extends to breech irons which are fitted with blued rear sights. Front spring locks with rebated tails, are fitted with flat faced serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Locks & hammers are engraved with about 80% coverage open scroll with scenes of pointers & pheasant at central portion surmounted by "DEVISME a PARIS". Trigger plates end in nicely engraved shaped finials & steel trigger guards with finger spurs are engraved with more scroll & a depiction of waterfowl on trigger guard bows. Stocks are of ebony & have fluted grips with finely engraved & sculpted steel caps. The fluting is enhanced by superb relief carving of scrolling acanthus in a stipled background. Matching relief carving is on short forends. Tops of grips are inlaid with vacant silver shields & sideplates are nicely shaped & scroll engraved. Stocks attach to bbls. with captive sidebolts through engraved oval escutcheons. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pistols are housed in their original ebony case with elaborate meticulously inlet brass scrolls & flowers around a central crestplate. Matching brasswork is at corners has brass banding accent. Case has keylock closure & is lined in burgandy velvet. Devisme information is in gold leaf in lid & bottom compartment is full French fitted for pistols & a complete assemblage of accessories which include a finely made steel round ball mold with automatic spruecutter which is scroll engraved; matching ebony loading rods, one with German silver jag; ebony loading mallet, ebony combination turnscrew & nipple wrench, a small steel powder measure marked "Devisme". A covered compartment with rosewood knob holds some lead balls & the key. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, bbls. retaining over 90% original blue with some high edge wear & some scattered freckling. Breech irons, locks & furniture all retain nearly all their original French gray finish. Stocks are very fine with few noted marks & scratches. One pistol shows some minor checking on left side above sideplate. Bores are bright & shiny. Mechanically crisp. Case is also very fine with some scratches & marks on top, one or two fairly deep. There are no noted cracks or losses. Interior cloth is good to very fine with a considerable amount of compressions & rubs from contact with pistols & accessories visible in lid. Cloth in bottom compartment is somewhat faded. Accessories are all very fine. A rare complete set of high quality French pistols. (01-21232 & 01-21233/MGM). BOTH ANTIQUE. $11,000-16,000.