Elaborately Decorated Pair of Silver Embellished and Gold Inlaid Flintlock Pocket Pistols by Knubley, Brunn & Co. with Accessories -A) Embellished Box Lock Turn-Off Barrel Pocket Pistol Elaborately Decorated Pair of Silver Embellished and Gold Inlaid Flintlock Pocket Pistols by Knubley, Brunn & Co. with Accessories -A) Embellished Box Lock Turn-Off Barrel Pocket Pistol This pair of pistols dates to 1795-1797 and have "KNUBLEY/& Co./BRUNN" on the left sides of the box lock actions surrounded by golden stands of arms, and "CHARING CROSS/LONDON" among golden stands of arms on the right sides. Knubley, Brunn & Company of Charing Cross, London, formed when talented cutler Samuel Brunn purchased an interest in John Knubley's firm upon his death in 1795. Brunn worked through Knubley, Brunn & Co. for only a couple of years before selling his shares and establish his own shop nearby under his own name and produced very fine swords and firearms for the Prince Regent and held contracts with the British Ordnance Department. The silver buttcaps have "MB" hallmarks and two others. In "Georgian Pistols" by Norman Dixon Moses Brent is listed as having used the mark, and he is known to have performed work for Brunn. Notes included with the pair indicate they were exhibited at Willmer House Museum in Farnham in April 1962 and at The Art of the Armourer at the V & A Museum in London in April and May in 1963. They are also pictured as plate 68a in "The Art of the Gunmaker Volume II" by Hayward. The notes also correctly indicate that the pair's decoration is very similar to a pair of Samuel Dunn duelling pistols owned by the Prince Regent. They follow the neo-classical style and resemble the work of Nicolas Noel Boutet at Versailles. They have stands of arms, floral vines, and stars in gold contrasted by blue finish on the iron and silver floral designs and stands of arms on the grips as well as a tower motif on the buttcaps. Standard London proofs are on the bottom of the turn-off barrels, and the pans are lined in gold. They come in a modern case fitted to the guns and include a cloth, small powder flask, correct barrel wrench, combination tool, and four lead balls. Manufacturer: English Model: Flintlock Pistol BBL: 2 1/8 inch round Stock: Gauge: 50 Finish: gold/blue Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Class: Antique Condition: Fine with virtually all of the gold inlay remaining, 50% of fading nitre blue finish primarily on the barrel, and gray patina on the balance along with some minor spotting. The grip is fine with mild handling and storage marks and a few small dings. The silver has attractive aged patina. Mechanically fine. B) Embellished Box Lock Turn-Off Barrel Pocket Pistol See A. Manufacturer: English Model: Flintlock Pistol BBL: 2 1/8 inch round Stock: Gauge: 50 Finish: gold/blue Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Class: Antique Condition: Fine with virtually all of the original gold inlay, 75% plus of the bright nitre blue finish on the barrel, traces of original blue finish on the action, and gray and brown patina and some slight pitting on the balance. The grip is fine and has mild handling and storage type marks and attractive aged patina on the silver. Mechanically fine. The case is very good with mild storage marks. The accessories are fine to very good overall. Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection.

  • Condition: See Description

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by Rock Island Auction Company
December 3, 2016 9:00 AM CST
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, IL, US 61201

Rock Island Auction Company

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