Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
FINE CASED PAIR OF FLINTLOCK SAW HANDLED DUELING PISTOLS BY THOMAS MORTIMER
01-21243 & 01-21244
Cal. 52
NSN
Thomas was the son of Samuel Mortimer and brother of H. W. Mortimer. He left the partnership with his brother in 1807. These guns have 10″ Damascus octagon bbls. with inset patent breaches. Top flats are engraved “Gun-Maker to His Majesty”. Top of patent breech with platinum touchhole & rear band has platinum oval cartouche marked “T. Mortimer” “London” on top. Case hardened breech iron with integral rear sight has floral engraving along with a shield & helm. Lock with chamferred plate and rebated tail has beautifully filed full waterproof pan with dramatic sweep to bridle for roller type frizzen. Roller is on blued featherspring with ball & spear finial. Locks are fitted with high breasted serpentine cocks & backsliding safeties. Chamfers on locks & cocks are feather engraved. There is scroll & armorial engraving on cocks & lockplates which are also engraved “T. Mortimer” under pans. Triggers are set & trigger plates end in classic pineapple finials. Blued trigger guards with finger spurs have armorial engraving on bows. Stocks of dense root walnut have checkered flared grips & distinctive saw type spurs at tops of grips. Bottoms of grips are inlet with feather engraved steel ovals. Bbls. with underribs mount to stocks with single captive sidebolts through oval steel escutcheons. Mahogany ramrods with brass tips mount through beaded steel pipes on underribs & engraved silver thimbles. One ramrod has end threaded for cleaning tools. The other has worm under cap.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pistols are housed in their original mahogany case with pivoting hook closure, brass lined keyhole & brass circular inlay on top. Case is lined in green cloth & a paper “Thomas Mortimer” label (without “Son”) is inset into lid. Case is devoid of accessories except for five flints in one covered compartment with brass ring top. Another compartment has some patches.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
