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INTERESTING PAIR OF 18TH CENTURY SILVER MOUNTED CONVERTED TO PERCUSSION JAMES FREEMAN PISTOLS.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
INTERESTING PAIR OF 18TH CENTURY SILVER MOUNTED CONVERTED TO PERCUSSION JAMES FREEMAN PISTOLS.
NSN. Cal. .665 Bore diameter. 8-3/4" Swamped bbls have three step wedding band transition to nicely flared muzzles. Bbls are nicely converted to percussion with welded-in bolsters. Tops of bbls are marked "Freeman London", and have London proofs and bbl makers mark "F" under a crown at left rear. Round bodied lockplates are fitted with broad serpentine percussion hammers, and are engraved "Freeman" in scroll surrounded device. Dense European walnut stocks have incised carved "moldings" around most metal parts, and some relief carved acanthus scroll behind top tangs. Un-hallmarked, high relief silver mounts include very interesting, macabre side plates with what appear to be severed heads above a broad bladed sword, with draped ribbon tail. A grotesque mask is on heavy knob butts, and a scroll terminated crest plate is at grips Silver trigger guards have fleur-di-lis finials. Stocks are pinned to bbls. Hickory ramrods have horn tips, one has worm tail. A very high quality pair of pistols. CONDITION: Good. Iron and steel parts are cleaned to silver gray. Stocks retain most of an old refinish. Silver is excellent, somewhat softened from cleaning over the ages. Hammer on one lock has been repaired. 4-49609 MGM217