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IMPRESSIVE LARGE EARLY 18TH CENTURY PAIR OF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
IMPRESSIVE LARGE EARLY 18TH CENTURY PAIR OF

FLINTLOCK DRAGOON PISTOLS BY I. I. BEHR OF WURZBURG CIRCA 1740. Cal. 63. NSN. Bbls. 14 1/2" tapered rnd., have filed in raised ribs at mid sections. Locks w/ arched & rounded plates having tapered tails fitted w/ serpentine cocks, inset faceted pans, unbridled file decorated frizzens & file decorated feather springs w/ dbl. oval finials. “I. I. Behr” engraved on the locks, (working in Liege, Maastricht & Wurzburg between 1690-1740). Walnut stocks extend to muzzles w/ horn caps & have early style long swept pistol grips. There are raised carved fields around nearly all components w/ raised acanthus carvings either side of thimbles & around bbl. tangs. Mounts are of gold plated brass & include massive ball butts w/ side straps & fancy central bosses. Sideplates w/ many piercings are of scroll design & show cherub figures at rear & cameo portraits at fronts. Trigger guards have faceted bows. Fancy crest plates are similar, relief cast. Mounts also have engraved scroll decoration. Walnut ramrods w/ horn tips mount through faceted & beaded single pipes & matching thimbles. CONDITION: iron parts cleaned to bright silver gray over very light oxidation marks. Wood w/ most all of its old, possibly original finish has some added oil. There are some repairs at front ramrod pipe on one pistol otherwise stocks are sound. Lock mortises show a bit of wear. Furniture retains most of its gold finish. Bores very good, lightly rusted. Locks operable, but main springs are rather weak. (01-19858/MGM). ANTIQUE. $5,000-7,000.