3380

SUPERB HIGH CONDITION CASED PAIR OF AMERICAN

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
SUPERB HIGH CONDITION CASED PAIR OF AMERICAN

PERCUSSION DUELING PISTOLS BY PROSPER VALLEE OF PHILADELPHIA. Cal. 46 smooth bore. NSN. Bbl. 8 5/8". These high quality pair of pistols appear to have been completely made in America. American made dueling pistols are very scarce. 8 5/8" Octagon twist barrels with under ribs are not stamped with foreign proofs. Case hardened breech plugs are unvented and have engraving on tops as well as inlayed gold lines at rears. Engraved breech irons have integral V notch rear sights. Back spring percussion locks have extreme down curve to tails as found on large size Derringer pistols and are fitted with flat faced serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Locks and hammers have some large scroll engraving and maker’s name “P. VALLEE / Philada” is on each plate. Stocks of dense crotch figured American walnut have extreme bag grips with fish scale carving instead of checkering. Blued and engraved trigger guards with very stylized pineapple finials have finger spurs. Triggers are set. Silver mounts include nose caps, oval escutcheons for side bolts, and vacant oval crest plates at tops of grips. Ebony ram rods with silver tips and capped brass tails (worms under caps) are held by one plain pipe and file decorated blued thimble UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pistols are housed in their original mahogany case w/ inlet rectangular brass plate on top. Case is lined in royal blue velvet and contains a number of high quality accessories including brass and copper flask, ebony handled combo nipple wrench and screw driver, rosewood loading mallet, two walnut loading rods (one with jag), nutcracker type steel ball mold marked “60”, a tin for Goldmark’s caps, and the original key. Two covered compartments holding cast balls have ivory knobs on mahogany covers. Also included is a small square silver box with carved mother of pearl top and a pair of gold mounted Pinc-nez with button hook on chain. Also included is a copy of "America The Men and Their Guns That Made Her Great" where these exact pistols are pictured on pg. 17, copy of "Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling.", consignor's notes regarding these pistols stating that the pistols were owned by members of the McCalla family of Philadelphia and that John Krider was apprentice to Vallee in 1826 and other notes on dueling. CONDITION: These rare American pistols remain in exceptionally fine original condition. Barrels retaining over 90% of their original thin brown finish. Breech plugs, irons, and locks retain over 95% original case hardening color (nipples still have a considerable amount of bright blue). Trigger guards and thimbles have about 80% of their original bright blue with some thinning and flaking at grips and on finger spurs; exactly as would be expected from very light handling and wear. Stocks have a fair scattering of marks and scratches, mostly on right sides from contact with case. Bores are bright. Triggers set. Locks are crisp. Case retains nearly all of its original varnish finish with a myriad of light marks and scratches. Interior cloth is fine with marks and compressions. Accessories are also fine, showing very little use and clean original surfaces. Mold has some heat discoloration. Prosper Vallee worked at 101 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia between 1823-29. A superb pair of American made percussion duelers of investment quality and condition. (01-19497/MGM). ANTIQUE. $25,000-40,000.