A Fine & Rare Cased Pair of Percussion Boxlock Pocket Pistols by Purdey of London. 5 ½” overall, 1 ½” round 60 bore turn off barrels with London Proofs each engraved with double lines around the muzzle, border engraved rounded actions ‘Purdey’ & ‘London’ on opposite sides, hammers and thumb piece safety catches. Folding triggers and border engraved rounded butt caps, the latter each with hinged circular butt trap cover. Finely chequered figured walnut rounded butts & vacant silver escutcheons. In their original fitted mahogany case lined in blue baize with accessories including miniature powder flask retaining most of its lacquered finish, steel barrel wrench, bullet mould, nipple key, turnscrew & ebony cap box. The exterior of the lid with circular brass escutcheon engraved 'R. F. W. CHILDERS. S.F. GUARDS'
Circa 1851
A Fine set in good condition, case hardened and retaining and some original finish.
Provenance
The L. Patrick Unsworth Collection
Literature
L. Patrick Unsworth, The Early Purdeys, 1996, pp. 76-77, pls. 43 and 44.
Sold to Rowland Childers on 2 June 1851 at a cost of £7.4.0
Rowland Francis Wallbanke Childers attained his commission in the 2nd Battalion, Scots Fusiliers Guards on 22 February 1850 and died in Florence 1856.