Pair Of Decorated Balkan Flintlock Pistols
Gold inlaid barrels, silver plated butt caps, carved and tack decorated...engraved

This pair of Balkan flintlock pistols with 9 ¼-inch four-stage barrels and 2 wedding rings are unsigned. The muzzles have open-mouthed carving and engraving reminiscent of very early cannons. The barrels are profusely and successfully chisel engraved and inlaid with gold in the recesses. The engraving reminds this writer of fancy filigree work; tangs, lock plates and hammers are done in the same manner. The barrels and tangs retain about all gold gilt decoration; lock plates and hammers retain 10-15% of the gold. The iron trigger guards are engraved. The relief cast butt caps are silver on copper or brass; relief cast stands of arms and long tangs reaching ¾-inch from lock plate. The 2-piece steel side plates are engraved. The full stocks are a light brown wood, perhaps walnut or a fruitwood and fully relief carved into panels; two on each backstrap and one complex panel on each side going from the butt almost to the forend). The checkered panels are triple incised creating open squares with five small steel tacks being framed by each of the many squares that embellish this handsome example. Silver wire inlay decorates the backstraps and surrounds the side plates with some sideplate wire long missing but not affecting the aesthetic. There is no provision for a ramrod; metal is finished bright. These are very attractive fancy pistols for the Balkan region. The stock of one pistol is sans a small piece at the upper rear of the lockplate and is not really noticeable at arms length and can be restored. Two small similar pieces have chipped away from the same area of the lockplate on the other gun, one from an identical spot, and one from below the lockplate. Because Balkan countries retained the flintlock system a little longer than in Western Europe, these guns could date anywhere from 1750s to the 1830s.

LIT-804/BPR-038/FYSS

Price: $4,450

If you are interested in buying this item, please call (978) 597-8084 or email David Hillier at drh@aaawt.com or Aaron Littlefield at ajl@aaawt.com

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