Belgian Single Blade Knife Pistol, Beautiful Engraved German Silver Scales

Attributed to Boden

The German silver scales are beautifully scroll engraved…one side features an engraved vignette showing a duck in flight over a wetland with cottage…the other side engraved with conforming scrolling however…the vignette shows a dog bounding through the wetland grasses.

Blade Marking: After examining the image closely and cross-referencing with known 19th-century Belgian combination weapons (pinfire revolver-knives), the partially worn stamp on the ricasso reads H. BERS / A ANVERS.

• The top line appears as “RBERS” due to heavy wear/patina obscuring the leading “H.” (the remnant curve and position match a damaged “H.” common on aged stamps; the period after “H.” is also faint or gone).
• The bottom line looks like “ATIE”, but it’s actually “A ANVERS” – the leading “A” (for “à,” meaning “in” or “at”) is faint, and the “NVERS” portion is worn, making “NV” resemble “TI” at a glance.

This is a retailer’s mark for Henri Bers, a known 19th-century gunsmith/retailer in Antwerp (French: Anvers), Belgium. These pieces were typically manufactured in Liège (bearing ELG* proofs), then retailed (and sometimes customized with blades) through dealers like Bers in other cities. Such marks are documented on period pinfire revolvers and knife-revolvers sold through Antwerp merchants. The blade was likely added/finished for Bers, explaining the ricasso stamp.

Item Date: Circa 1850

Measurement: Overall length: 6.5"; barrel length: 3.5"; knife length: 3.375

Material: German silver scales, Damascus barrel

Item Condition: Mechanics are fine and smooth; scales are sharp and clean; blade shows scattered light pitting and displays a peppered pewter gray surface. The .38-caliber barrel shows a clear Liege proof mark and thin/faded Damacus pattern. Barrel shows some staining and light surface pitting. The blade markings are partially legible.

Price: $4,950

SKU 308-705

For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.

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