3374

GOOD PAIR OF EARLY 18TH CENTURY BRASS MOUNTED

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

HOLSTER PISTOLS BY F. SMART.
Cal. 55. NSN. Bbl. 8 3/4". Francis Smart became free of the gun maker’s company of London in 1693 & worked until around 1725. He was an officer in the gun maker’s company in 1716 & made guns for Hudson Bay Company & the Royal African Company. Good examples of his work are seldom seen. These fairly well preserved pistols have 8 3/4" stepped rnd. bbls. w/ slight flare to muzzles. Rear portion of breeches have turned bands & there is some well done scroll engraving. Tops engraved. “F. SMART”. Left sides stamped w/ very early London gun maker’s proofs & Smart’s crowned “FS” bbl. mark. Locks w/ arched rnd. bodied plates w/ attenuated tails fitted w/ early style serpentine cocks, inset rounded pans, unbridled frizzens & feather springs w/ pineapple finials. Plates & cocks are line border & scroll engraved. “F” “SMART” is under each pan. Internal inspection reveals unbridled tumblers & crowned “H” armorer’s mark. Walnut stocks extending to muzzles exhibit very early styling w/ long curve to pistol grip & swell at thimbles. Raised carved fields are around lock & sideplates & there is acanthus carving behind bbl. tangs. Pistols are brass mounted w/ very lg. bulbous grip caps w/ side straps. Central bosses are grotesque heads. Scrolled sideplates are of acanthus leaves & multi beaded trigger guards have urn & foliate finials. Crest plates engraved w/ monogram “TEA” (?) on lg. tongues of grotesque head pattern. Figured rosewood ramrods w/ horn tips mount through single multi banded pipes & matching thimbles. CONDITION: iron parts all cleaned to fairly bright silver gray over some light scattered pitting. Wood w/ old possibly original finish, considerably worn w/ many light marks & dings. Stocks appear sound w/ few noted repairs except for tack repair & replaced wood at front side of butt (one pistol). Bores are very good w/ some scattered pitting. Locks operable. (01-19865/MGM). ANTIQUE. $5,000-7,000.