An Exceptional Pair Of 15-Bore Breech-Loading Superimposed-Load Flintlock Belt PistolsBy Robert Sharpe, London, Circa 1700With octagonal turn-off barrels each with moulding at the muzzle and male thread at the rear, octagonal breeches also with moulding and ramped at the rear, signed in large capitals on the top flat and finely engraved with strawberry foliage, the interior of each breech with a centrally mounted pillar, rounded actions finely engraved with strawberry foliage involving a monster's head and an insect escaping from a box, engraved cocks (repaired), revolving pans each with external lever and crescentic steel-spring (one steel a working replacement), heavy rounded figured rootwood butts (one replaced), large rounded pommels finely engraved with a grotesque mask and scrolling strawberry foliage involving two monster-heads, each pommel with long tang engraved with beadwork and secured by a screw to the top of the breech, plain triggers forming the rear half of the trigger-guards, the latter (one replaced) each with acanthus finial and engraved on the bow with a bird on its perch, and iron belt hooks (some old rust patination), London proof marks (2)38.1 cm. 20 cm. barrels, 38.1 cm. overall Footnotes:ProvenanceW. Keith Neal Collection, P 292/3Christie's London, Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection, 8 November 1995, lot 294Sold in these Rooms, Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria..., 27 November 2019, lot 392LiteratureW. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1540-1740, 1984, pp. 258-260, pls. XX, 97a to dThe pillar in the interior of each breech was designed to expand the ball to obtain obturation to the rear when the leading charge was fired. The system was reintroduced in 1844 by Thouvenin when he sought a system ensuring that a projectile would take the grooves of a rifled barrel without stripping. This pair of pistols shows that Sharpe had anticipated the invention by one hundred and fifty years