A Fine Cased Pair Of 54-Bore Percussion Rifled Target Or Duelling Pistols

By James Purdey, No. 314½, Oxford Street, London, Nos. 2039 And 2040 For 1831

With browned twist octagonal sighted barrels each rifled with twelve grooves and signed in full along the top flat (one barrel with old rebrowned finish, probably by the maker), blued front and back-sights, case-hardened patent breeches each with engraved borders, platinum line and pierced platinum plug, case-hardened foliate scroll engraved tangs, border engraved dolphin hammers and signed detented flat locks, the last each with engraved safety-catch, ebonised half-stocks with chequered rounded butts, border engraved steel mounts comprising case-hardened ovoidal butt-caps each engraved with a feathered design centred on the retaining screw engraved with a flower-head, blued trigger-guards each engraved with a martial trophy and foliage on the border engraved bow, case-hardened trigger-plates with scallop shell engraved pineapple-shaped finial, and fore-end caps each engraved with a starburst, blued set triggers, vacant silver escutcheons and barrel-bolt escutcheons, and in fine condition retaining nearly all their original finish: in original lined and fitted mahogany case with full accessories including James Dixon & Sons brass-mounted three-way powder-flask, a bullet mould serial numbered to the pistols, turnscrew with pricker, and nipple-key engraved with initials 'CHC', the interior of the lid with maker's trade label, the exterior (minor old splits) with circular flush-fitting brass carrying handle centred on a circular vacant brass escutcheon, London proof marks
24.2 cm. barrels