A Very Fine, Rare and Mint Cased Pair of Percussion Duelling Pistols by Forsyth & Co.
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16 ¼” overall, 10” browned twist octagonal 32 bore sighted barrels signed ‘FORSYTH & CO., PATENT GUNMAKER'S, LONDON’, along the top flat, London Proofs, case hardened octagonal breeches each with two platinum lines and pierced platinum plug, border engraved case hardened tangs each decorated with a design of foliage, signed ‘FORSYTH & CO., PATENT’ border engraved case hardened, serial numbered, detented back-action locks each engraved with foliage and with blued safety catch, hammers en suite with the locks. Highly figured butts each with chequered grip and flat ovoidal pommel, blued D-shaped spur trigger guards each decorated with three flower heads within swirling foliage, numbered 4010 &4011 on the tangs. Vacant silver escutcheons, original brass-tipped ramrods each with horn terminal.
In its original lined and fitted mahogany case with a full complement of accessories including brass-mounted three-way powder-flask with red leather-covered body, powder-dispenser, caping tool, patch cutter, mallet, loading rod, steel bullet mould numbered '4010' and mainspring clamp. The interior of the lid with maker's trade label of sixth design for 1828-38, and owner's armorial bookplate of William Edward Royds, the exterior with flush-fitting brass carrying handle engraved 'William Edward Royds, Rochdale', and centred on a circular brass escutcheon engraved with his crest and motto.
Nos. 4010 & 4011: Circa 1835
Previously unrecorded, of the very best quality and of an unusual design retaining 95% +of their original finish.
For a very similar cased pair of pistols (nos. 4129 and 4130) see D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers, Forsyth & Co. Patent Gunmakers 1806-1852, 1995, pl. 39. Only five similar pairs know to have been made.
William Royds was born in 1818, son of Clement Royds (1785-1854) of Rochdale, Lancaster, and his wife Jane Hudson (1788-1853). He was a banker & Captain in the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry Cavalry.