An Extremely Rare Pair Of Irish 20-Bore Flintlock Holster Pistols With Brass Barrels, Locks And MountsBy I. Turton, Limerick, Early 18th CenturyWith sighted barrels each engraved with foliage around the fore-sight, breeches cast and engraved with foliage, border engraved brass-covered tangs decorated with foliage, signed border engraved flat bevelled locks each decorated with foliage on the tail, foliate engraved bevelled locks and faceted border engraved steels (some scattered pitting), moulded figured full stocks (butts with old repairs, one fore-end partly replaced) each carved with foliage around the barrel tang, cast and chased mounts comprising pierced foliate side-plates each involving a monster-head, vacant foliate escutcheons, border engraved spurred faceted pommels decorated with foliage and each with separate 'Green Man' mask cap, engraved trigger-guards each with bevelled edge and foliate finial, faceted ramrod-pipes (one replaced), and later brass-capped ramrods (some wear overall) (2)25.4 cm. barrelsFootnotes:ProvenanceSold in these Rooms, Antique Arms, Armour & Modern Sporting Guns, 23 May 2018, lot 497For a pair of flintlock blunderbuss-pistols by the same maker see W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1540-1740, 1984, pp. 362-365, pls. XXVII, 152a-f