1496

PAIR OF PHILADELPHIA JACOB KUNZ(1780-1876) SIGNED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:17,500.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
PAIR OF PHILADELPHIA JACOB KUNZ(1780-1876) SIGNED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS.
PLEASE NOTE (02-26-13): Regarding these fine pistols; 1) They are 45 caliber. 2) Each are original text. 3) The bbls are additionally marked with one having a single dot and the other with two dots (implying the guns are numbered 1 & 2) indicating sale or production as a pair. 4) The dark curly maple stocks are decorated with silver thumb piece inlays and nvgraved brass side-plates, trigger-guards and tangs, rear ramrod pipes and eight point stars on their butts. 5) The two pistols are not identical but nearly so in terms of architecture and form. The only difference is the subtle differences in the engravings on the furniture. Under CONDITION: Extremely fine and fine, with one gun extremely crisp and retaining almost all of its original piano varnish finish, the other showing more use. Markings, edges and actions are crisp. One bore shows rifling, the other shows rifling worn out from use or was originally a smooth bore. The single dot and double dot may indicate a special order of the latter features. These pistols have 9 1/8 inch full octagon barrels, one marked ìJ. KUNZî and the other marked ìPHILADaî. Each of the flint locks are marked ìWARRANTED by KONIGMACHER & CO.î The dark curly maple stocks are decorated with silver thumb piece inlays and engraved silver eight pointed stars on their butts. The two pistols seem to be a matched pair with the exception of their trigger guards, each of which is individually engraved. Jacob Kuntz (Kunz) is a very important maker who was trained in Allentown, PA. Jacob Kunz, gunsmith of Philadelphia, and Peter Kuntz, gunsmith of North Whitehall Township Northampton County, were brothers and sons of the gunsmith Peter Kuns of North Whitehall Township Northampton County. (Lehigh County was part of Northampton County until 1815). Jacob moved to Philadelphia in 1810 and in 1812 married Barbara Newhard, niece of the famous Allentown gunsmith Peter Newhard. In 1833 the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia awarded Jacob Kuntz a silver medal for his skill and ingenuity. Jacob died at the age of 95 years after becoming Philadelphiaís most sought after gunsmith by wealthy customers in England, Scotland and America. Jacob was an excellent engraver and several examples of his work are on display in New Yorkís Metropolitan Museum of Art. CONDITION: These are not a ìMatchedî pair of pistols, but they do seem to have been made to be sold as a pair. The trigger guards were each made from the same casting, but were filed differently either by two different persons in the shop or to avoid a flaw in the casting. One trigger guard rear tang is held in place by a screw, the other by a pin. The flint locks appear to be original flint. 4-48258 RGG13