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HIGH CONDITION PR. OF FLINTLOCK SMALL PISTOLS BY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
HIGH CONDITION PR. OF FLINTLOCK SMALL PISTOLS BY
HESS OF SWEIBRUCKEN WITH BARRELS BY JOHANN ANDREAS KUCHENREUTER. Cal. 42. S# NSN. The 6-3/8" ovate scratch rifled barrels with filed in side flats at breech and full tapered top rib are silver inlaid "Ioh. And. Kuchenreuter" on top flat amid some flush scrolled silver inlay. A gold poincon at breech end depict a saber wielding horseman; the early stamp of this noted barrel maker. Silver blade front sight is on flared muzzle. Tang of breech plug is fitted with "V" notch rear sights with flip up long range leaves each engraved "E28". (Johann Andreas Kuchenreuter was working in Bavaria between 1740-1795). Locks with deeply chamfered plates having rebated tails and serpentine cocks are fitted with inset faceted pans, unbridled friction frizzens and feather springs having wide bulbous finials with teats. Sliding safetys are behind cock. Lockplates are engraved "HESS.A." "ZWEYBRUCKEN" (no Hess is listed with first initial A. however, a family of Hess gunsmiths were in Sweibrucken 1720-80). European walnut stocks with birds head grips extend to muzzles with horn tips and are pinned to barrels. Raised carved mouldings are around barrel tangs, lock sideplates, trigger guards, grip caps, ramrods and along barrel channels. Furniture is of relief cast gilded brass and consists of trigger guards with scroll finials, grip caps which cover rears of grips and sideplates with fancy outline. Furniture is decorated with relief cast hunting and animal figures and scrolls. Plain walnut ramrods with horn tips mount through single beaded pipes and matching thimbles. CONDITION: exceptionally fine with a considerable amount of bright polish which remains on iron parts which appears to be original. Stocks retain nearly all of their original oil finish with a good scattering of marks as expected with over 300 years of handling. Furniture retains about half of its original gilt finish. Bores are bright and shiny. Locks are crisp. Pistols appear to have been fired very little if at all. (01-24100/MGM). ANTIQUE. $4,000-6,000.