3358

FINE CONDITION PAIR OF GOOD QUALITY FLINTLOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
FINE CONDITION PAIR OF GOOD QUALITY FLINTLOCK

HOLSTER PISTOLS BY JOHANN JACOB KUCHENREUTER. Cal. 50. NSN. The famous Kuchenreuter Family of Bavaria made fine weapons for over two centuries starting in the late 1600s. They made many guns and pistols for royalty. This fine pair of pistols made circa 1740-50 are by Johann Jacob who was the son of the company's founder Johann Christoph. The 12" ovate bbls. have top portions filed forming ribs which are inlaid "IOHANN IACOB Kuchenreuter" in platinum or white gold. Front sight is inlaid brass with shaped surround. Rear of each bbl. is stamped with 3 gold inlaid poinceon. The central stamp has a horse and rider and initials "I I K". The two flanking stamps show crowned initials "IK". Pistols are numbered "1" and "2" at rears. Breech plugs are mounted with two folding leaf rear sights. Touch holes are gold lined. Bright polished locks with slightly arched plates are unmarked, and feature serpentine cocks, inset faceted pans with gold plated troughs, unbridled friction frizzens, and feather springs with nicely filed foliate finials. Locks are filed in best quality manner with moldings around plates and cocks. It's interesting to note that no screws protrude through lockplates; the equivalent of modern best quality "pinless" locks. Triggers are set. Stocks of dense European walnut, extend to muzzles with horn tips, and have raised carving and moldings around locks, sideplates, ramrod, and bbl. channels. Raised scroll carving is around bbl. tang and between trigger guard and thimble. Pistols are mounted in gold plated brass which is well detailed, with fancy outline to sideplates, and crest plates at tops of grips. Horn tipped ramrods mount through octagonal beaded pipes and matching thimbles. CONDITION: very good. Bbls. retain nearly 80% of an old brown finish with considerable subsequent oxidation. Locks retain most of what appears to be their original bright polish. Furniture retains about 80% gold plating with brass turning brown where exposed. Stocks exhibit and old refinish with some softening of carving details. Bores are good, with light rusting throughout. Locks are crisp (triggers need to be set before locks can be cocked). Stocks are sound with few losses or cracks. A handsome pair of early pistols. (01-20222/MGM). ANTIQUE. $7,000-10,000.