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Cased Pair of English Percussion Holster Pistols by Collins -A) English Percussion Holster Pistol by

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Cased Pair of English Percussion Holster Pistols by Collins -A) English Percussion Holster Pistol by
A) This is a fine original cased pair of English Percussion Holster Pistols made by James Collins of London circa 1840. James Collins had a shop at 12 Virgo Lane, Regent Street, London between 1800 and 1854. James Collins is listed in "ENGLISH, IRISH AND SCOTTISH FIREARMS MAKERS" by A. Merwyn Carey as a gun maker who specialized in officer's holster pistols. The pistols feature octagon barrels with under-ribs and a single iron ramrod pipe, iron trigger guards and wedge fastened English walnut stocks with fine checkering and ebony forearm tips. The pistols have small, dove-tailed, nickel-silver, front sight blades and rear sights on the tangs. Two platinum bands are inlaid on the barrel breeches. The locks have sliding bar safeties. The ramrods are ebony with flared brass tips. The barrels have a browned Damascus finish. The breeches, tangs, hammers and lock plates are casehardened and the trigger guards and backstrap are blued. The top of each barrel is engraved: "COLLINS LONDON" in a single line. "COLLINS/LONDON" is engraved in two lines on the lock ahead of the hammer. The pistol breeches, tangs, hammers, locks and trigger guards are decorated with delicate, well-executed, scroll and floral engraving. The mahogany case has an inlaid, folding brass handle. The case interior is lined with green baize and has eight compartments. James Collins' label is attached to the inside of the lid. The case contains: (1) a cylindrical reproduction brass powder flask, (2) pewter oil bottle, (3) two tins of Goldmark's percussion caps and (4) several .50 caliber balls.
BBL: 8 inch octagonal
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 50 percussion
Finish: brown/casehardeded
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Very fine. The pistols retain 75% of the original casehardened and brown Damascus finish with strong case colors. Both pistols have some scattered flash pitting on the percussion nipples and adjacent portions of the barrels. The trigger guards and grip straps retain 60% plus of the original blue finish. The stocks are in very fine condition with most of the original finish, sharp checkering and light to moderate handling wear. The maker's markings on the barrels and lock plates are sharp. The case is also in very fine condition with light to moderate handling and storage wear on the top and sides. The maker's label on the inside of the lids has some minor stains but remains in fine condition. The case lining is dusty and somewhat faded; the partitions are solid and the lining is free from damage. As noted above, the flash is incorect. This is an attractive fine original pair of cased, London, 19th Century Officers Percussion Holster Pistols.

B) English Percussion Holster Pistol by Collins
With "A".
BBL:
Stock:
Gauge: 50
Finish:
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: