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A RARE BELT BUCKLE PISTOL

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:NA Estimated At:900.00 - 1,000.00 USD
A RARE BELT BUCKLE PISTOL
Auctions Imperial is pleased to announce our 2013 sale, to be held March 16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Timonium, Maryland. Over 300 lots of choice antique arms and armor including armor, helmets, shields, swords, daggers, battleaxes, maces, halberds, matchlocks, flintlocks and percussion pieces will be offered. Our fine selection for 2013 includes broadswords, baskethilts, shamshirs, shashkas, palas, kindjals, khanjars, tulwars and spears, as well as chain mail and breastplates. This sale will also include important swords and daggers from the Greek War of Independence and the armor of the K...
Comprising an oval steel buckle plate mounted with a percussion mechanism and short, projecting barrel. The trigger finial is pierced for a lanyard, allowing it to be fired surreptitiously. Invented in England, the belt buckle pistol was designed to be worn at the waist, where it would effectively defend the wearer from a frontal attack, or at the small of the back, in the event a garrote was used; garroting was a common practice during the Victorian Era. Retaining its original leather belt, with most original black finish to the buckle. Mid 19th century. For quite similar see L. Winant, Firearms Curiosa, (1955: New York. Bonanza.) p. 152. Light wwar, buckle possibly replaced. Overall length 113.6 cm.
Condition II