A Very Find Cased Set of Presentation Quality Le Page Percussion Rifled Target Pistols.
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15 ¼” overall, 9” octagonal 24 bore multi groove Damascus barrels, numbered ‘1’ & ‘2’ in gold. Adjustable blade fore sights. Finely engraved tangs with standing rear sights. The lock plates are marked "LEPAGE A PARIS" in gold lined oval, fine floral scroll engraved tails on the lock plates, hammers, breech plugs, barrel tangs, spur triggers and trigger guard with vase engraved finials, the butt caps have engraved wheatear bands. Set triggers. The dark walnut half stocks with shell carved fore ends, single barrel wedge with silver oval escutcheons, carved fish scales on the grip & carved leaf motif along the back edge of the grip & flared butt. The flame mahogany case with dark green velvet lining & brass corner & edge protectors, hunting horn folding handle. The case contains a comprehensive set of accessories including a mallet, cleaning rod with attachments, ramrod, brass cap dispenser, bullet mold, wad cutter, fine small powder flask, screwdriver/wrench combination tool, oil bottle, spring clamp, ladle, key & patches. Lead balls in the corner boxes.
Circa 1830
An important set of pistols by the best Parian maker, in very fine condition.
Jean André Prosper Lepage, known as Henri Lepage (1792-1854), was the son of the Royal gunmaker Jean Lepage. He was court gunmaker to Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis Philippe. From 1825 he was a member of the Conseil Général des Manufactures and won silver medals at the Industrial Exhibitions of 1823, 1827, 1834 and 1839. He was also a restorer and dealer of antique weapons and armour.
The Maison Lepage was founded in 1717, under Louis XV, by Louis Pigny, whose niece became the wife of Pierre Lepage (1709-1783), originally from Tessy-sur-Vire (Manche) in Normandy, to whom he sold his business in 1743. The latter being without an heir, also ceded his land to his nephew, Jean Lepage in 1767, four of whose six children continued in the profession of gunsmith. Jean André Prosper Henri Lepage, succeeded his father in 1822, and then he made known the quality of his achievements through his participation in the Paris exhibitions for which he obtained various distinctions (including the silver medal). In 1842, he handed over the management of his house to his son-in-law Gilles Michel Louis Moutier. In 1865, the latter went into partnership with Émile Henry Fauré-Lepage (1840-1929), his nephew, who became the sole owner from 1868 until 1913 when the company changed ownership for good.