A Very Fine Cased Pair of Double Barrelled Flintlock Carriage Pistols by James Wilkes, St. James's St., London. 12 ¾” overall, 7” side by side 38 bore round barrels engraved ‘Wilkes St James Street London’, breeches with one gold line, gold touch holes, London proofs. Tangs engraved with wheat ears, stepped flat bolted locks signed ‘Wilkes’, swan necked florally engraved cocks, top jaws engraved with sunbursts. Semi waterproof pans, frizzens with rollers. Highly figured walnut half stocks, chequered butts with engraved butt caps, French style engraved steel trigger guards each decorated with musical trophy & flags, scallop shell over a vase finial, original brass mounted ramrods. In their original lined & fitted mahogany case with original accessories including red leather two way powder flask, steel bullet mould, loading rod & turn screw, & the heading of a Wilkes bill of sale. The exterior of the lid with a circular brass escutcheon with folding handle
Circa 1799-1810
Very fine pistols by rare maker in good condition, much original finish, barrels rebrowned. Some moth damage to case lining.
John Wilkes .1796 Coventry Street 1799-1810 St Janes Street Bankrupt 1802 Breech loading rifle trail by the Ordnance 1801-5 but rejected.
From The Peter Frazer Collection