An Rare Pair Of 18-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Pistols

By Wilson, London, London Silver Hallmarks For 1753, Maker's Mark Possibly Of Jonathan Alleine

With cannon barrels each signed on the sighting flat with drop-shaped terminal along the breech, border engraved tangs decorated with rocailles and foliage, signed rounded locks (cocks old replacements) each with slender raised border, engraved safety-catch and rainproof pan, moulded figured half-stocks (one with minor old repair beneath the tail of the lock) with swelling rounded butts, the latter (one split through and repaired) finely inlaid with silver wire dolphin and cornucopia either side of the carved scallop shell behind the barrel tang, and with a large martial trophy and a naval trophy on both sides, the former centred on an engraved silver Classical helmet, the latter with an anchor through an engraved silver crown, and with flowers between, the fore-ends each with silver wire scrollwork issuing from a monster-head, finely cast and chased mounts comprising side-plates pierced with elaborate trophy of arms (one with minor repair), large vacant escutcheons each with a helmet above and a flower-head below, pommel-caps each with a Classical trophy beneath a baldachin within scrollwork, strapwork and rocailles, all against finely punched grounds, the tangs with a basket of flowers, trigger-guards each with foliate finial and decorated with a martial trophy on the border engraved bow, border engraved fore-end caps also forming the ramrod-entry and decorated with a basket of fruit on symmetrical scrolls, single baluster ramrod-pipes each on an oval, and original silver-tipped ramrods (steel parts with some scattered pitting), London proof marks and Wilson's barrelsmith's mark
(2)
21.7 cm. barrels