Lot 404
A fine cased pair of mid 18th century flintlock carriage pistols,
Auction: 30 June 2004 at 12:00 BST
Description
the stepped steel locks signed D.EGG within an engraved ribbon, with brass barrels, octagonal at the breech to midway, round to the swamped muzzle, 'London' engraved on the top flat, with gun-makers view and proof marks, steel barrel tangs engraved with bell flowers, brass flat side plate, engraved with flower-head and ribbon, brass spurred pommel, flower engraved butt caps and trigger guards with acorn finials, the brass escutcheon engraved with an Earls coronet surmounted by a Wyvern crest, in later green baize lined, fitted oak case with flush fitting brass handle, Durs Egg trade card, with accessories, including a double ended turn-screw, leather covered three-way pistol powder flask, ball mould, patch cutter and loading rod. Pistols circa 1770.Case circa 1790
Dimensions
14inchs long 8 inch barrels
Footnote
Note: The Wyvern crest is of 2nd Earl Powis of Powis Castle, the grandson of Robert Clive of India, the pistols are of the 1770 period and could well be have been ordered by Clive. An old typed card in the case states that the pistols were quite possibly made for Robert Clive and made for use in India, sold at the Powis Castle sale in 1922. Pistols of this carriage or holster type were rarely sold in cases but in cloth or leather shoddies. The pistols fit the case perfectly and the use of the Egg trade card and Coventry Street address would point to them being cased by Egg circa.1800. Robert Clive of India committed suicide by shooting himself in September 1774.