A Pair Of Austrian 25-Bore Flintlock Holster Pistols
Circa 1730
With reblued swamped barrels each with sighting flat carrying a brass fore-sight on the trefoil-shaped terminal, breeches each inlaid in silver with an engraved angel and bird within foliated silver strapwork, reblued border engraved tangs, border engraved rounded locks each decorated beneath the pan with a seated huntress and dog in a landscape, and with a seated youth on the tail en suite, the latter with chiselled foliate terminal, foliate engraved cocks and steels, moulded figured full stocks each carved with scrolls around the barrel tang and numbered respectively 'N18' and 'N19' on one side of the butt, cast and chased brass mounts retaining faint traces of gilding and comprising pierced foliate side-plates (some corrosion) each centred on an eagle amid a martial trophy, crowned vacant escutcheons within foliate scrolls surmounted by drapery, spurred pommels each engraved with seated figures on both sides en suite with the locks, rounded pommel-caps with symmetrical foliated strapwork against stippled grounds, trigger-guards each with finial en suite and engraved on the bow with a female figure armed with a spear and shield, turned baluster ramrod-pipes, dark horn fore-end caps, and later ramrods (2)
29.4 cm. barrels