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French mid-18th century royal quality flintlock pocket pistol with sterling silver mounts, marked

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:750.00 USD
French mid-18th century royal quality flintlock  pocket pistol with sterling silver mounts, marked
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
French mid-18th century royal quality flintlock pocket pistol with sterling silver mounts, marked “Tescier” “AFontenau” on lock. The diminutive pistol measures only 5-1/8” overall with 2-1/2” octagon to round canon type barrel, full stocked to the muzzle. The mounts are of very high quality showing a grotesque masked type butt with hand-engraved triggerguard and silver ramrod pipes. The stock is also very finely narrow wire silver inlaid at the wrist which is quite profuse and the sideplate is engraved to match the triggerguard and scrolls. The barrel shows traces of a gold damascene type finish. The metal surfaces are good with a dark patina and some light to moderate pitting and erosion with some slightly heavier pitting toward the front of the muzzle. The pistol is in its original flintlock configuration with correct small parts. The stock is very good plus to near fine with just some egdewear. The pistol retains a horn tip original to the period miniature type rod. A lead collection tag with “MBR” is attached to the trigger guard, indicating ownership by Martin B. Retting, one of California’s earliest and most recognized collectors/dealers. An uncommonly fine