A Fine Pair of Cased Officers Flintlock Duelling Pistols. 14 ¾” overall, 9” heavy twist 16 bore scratch rifled octagonal sighted barrels. Breeches each with gold line & rectangular maker's stamp. Barrels with London Proofs and numbered ‘530’ on underside, platinum touch holes, tangs engraved with martial trophies & foliage, flat lock plated signed ‘Alex Wilson London’, border engraved detented locks decorated with foliage on the tails each with safety catch, engraved 'French' cock, rainproof pan, roller & ramped steel spring, highly figured half stocks, chequered rounded butts. Engraved steel mounts comprising butt caps & spur trigger guards, the latter each decorated with a martial trophy & foliage on the bow & retaining some original blueing on the inside, blued trigger plates each with pineapple finial, rear ramrod pipes en suite, vacant silver escutcheons & barrel bolt escutcheons, horn fore end caps, stirrup ramrods. I their original lined & fitted mahogany case with accessories including red leather covered three way flask & loading rod, the interior of the lid with illustrated trade label of William Bond, the exterior with flush fitting brass carrying handle & circular brass escutcheon.
No. 530 Circa 1815.
Fine pistols in good condition, some original finish, barrels rebrowned. The stirrup ramrods probably fitted by William Bond for an officer at the time of the pistol’s refurbishment during the pistols working life.
Alexander Wilson worked for both John & Joseph Manton. He set up business at 14 Tichborne Street in 1805 & in June 1810 Joseph Manton brought an action against him for making double barrel guns with elevated ribs which were protected by Manton's Patent No. 2966 of 1806. See W. Keith Neal & D H L Back ' The Manton Supplement' 1978, pp. 126-130 & p. 174.