A Very Fine Pair of Flintlock Duelling Pistols by William Smith.
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15” overall, 9 ¼” octagonal 45 bore sighted barrels with Damascus twist, signed ‘W Smith Lisle Street London’ along the top flat. Recessed patent breech with four gold lines and platinum lined touch-hole, foliate engraved case hardened tang, border engraved case hardened detented flat lock signed ‘William Smith Lisle ST London’ decorated with foliage and engraved 'Patent 474/5' below the swept rainproof pans. Safety catch and roller, cock engraved en suite with the lock, and steel engraved 'W Smith 474/5 Patent '. Figured walnut half stock with chequered rounded grip, with a vacant silver escutcheon, trigger guard decorated with symmetrical foliage on the border engraved bow numbered 1616, trigger plate with set screw, silver barrel bolt escutcheons and fore end cap, original horn-tipped ramrod.
A very high quality pair of pistols in good condition, some finish remaining on locks, barrels an old rebrown.
Circa 1815
One of very few pistols made by William Smith 'Patent 474 and 475 refers to the 474 & 475 locks made in accordance with the maker's patent of 1812.
William Smith was at 2 New Lisle Street, London, between 1806 and 1816. He was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to the Prince Regent in 1817, and to George IV in 1820. He probably started his serial numbers at 1000.