A Very Rare Cased Pair of Percussion Duelling Pistols by Samuel Nock, 16 ¼” overall, 10” twist octagonal 38 bore sighted barrels signed ‘Samuel Nock London’ in small block capitals on the flat, border engraved case hardened breeches fitted with pierced platinum plugs, engraved case hardened breech tangs incorporating the backsight, engraved case hardened flush fitting, stepped back action locks signed 'Samuel Nock Invenit' & decorated with characteristic scrolling serpents & foliage, fitted with engraved case hardened hammers decorated en suite, blued bolt safety catches numbered internally ‘7354’. Figured walnut half stocks with slender chequered butts, engraved steel mounts comprising blued trigger guards decorated with serpents & foliage, & a pair of ramrod pipes, vacant silver escutcheons, silver barrel bolt escutcheons, horn fore-end caps, & original ramrods each stamped with matching serial number, one with a worm the other with a powder measure. In their original fitted mahogany case lined in green baize with ring lifting handle & Samuel Nock, 43 Regent Street trade label, with some accessories including fluted Dixon & Son flask, bullet mould, loading rod, double ended turn screw & nipple key, cap tin and spring clamp. Both corner box lids with label of ‘R. Jackson Gun Maker 30 Portman Place Edgware Road’ (1847-65) who probably sold them as second hand.
NO.7354, Circa 1833
Pistols of the highest quality in very good condition, with original finish, case lining scuffed and label stained.
Very early example of back action locks, Nock by marking the locks 'Samuel Nock Invenit' may be was trying to take credit for the design.
James Rowntree of Durham made a type of back lock action fitted to patch lock sporting guns in about 1815 and Henry Nock, Samuel’s uncle with whom he was apprenticed, fitted back action locks to the first pattern Naval Volley gun in about 1780.
A pair of near identical pistols, No.7348, formerly in the W. Keith Neal Collection, were sold Christie's 9th November 2000, lot 165. A note accompanying the Neal pistols attributes the form of the stocks to the whim of a Scottish Laird for whom the pistols were apparently made, in the style of the earlier Scottish pistol with fish tailed butt.
Samuel Nock, nephew of Henry, apprentice to uncle, 1791; free of Gunmakers Co., 1800. Took Livery, 1820. Elected Assistant, 1833; Master 1836. Gunmaker, Hawkesbury Pl., Walworth, 1804; 180 Fleet Street, 1806-22; 43 Regent Circus, 1823-52. Appointed Gunmaker in Ordinary to George III, 1805; George IV, 1822; William IV, 1830; Queen Victoria, 1837. Died 1851.