Extremely fine cased French Republic presentation 50 bore (....

Hammer

£15,800

Extremely fine cased French Republic presentation 50 bore (.450) percussion duelling pistols by Geerinckx of Paris, the octagonal barrels fluted along the angles and rifled, foliate scroll engraved breeches, the tangs each with blued rear sights, the lock plates, hammers and mountings are elaborately inlaid in heavy raided gold scrolls and floral design in two tones of gold. The barrels are marked on the top 'Geerinckx suc'r de Gauvain a Paris'. The ebony stocks are carved all over in a double triangle design and have ornate two tone gold-mounted pommels and spur trigger guards. The guns are in unfired condition as are the accessories of ebony cleaning rod, ebony ramrod, ebony loading mallet, ebony turn-screw, steel powder measure, steel bullet mould, gold inlaid, 3 round ebony caps and accessory boxes. The case is of rosewood and lined with purple velvet. The inside lining of the top is decorated in large gold design and lettering that reads 'Maison Gauvain Geerinckx arquebusier Fournisseur de Ministere des Affaires Estranger a Paris'. Top of the case is outlined in two gold inlaid lines and an elaborate gold plaque in the centre is engraved in French which translated reads 'Presented by the government of the French Republic to Colonel. H.T. Siborne, Delegate of his Britannic Majesty to the European Commission of the Danube January 1879'. In its outer green leather carrying case. The French government wanted to decorate Col. Siborne for his services, but since the etiquette of the service required permission from the British government, and there would be a delay, the pair of pistols were awarded instead. The pistols have 26cm barrels, 42cm overall. The case is 46cm x 28cm x 8cmSold with typewritten 'Statutory Declaration' hand-dated 10th December 1926, hand signed by W. H. Siborne, son of the Colonel, and by the Commissioner of Alberta, Canada, detailing the military provenance of the pistols and their recipient, list of contents, inheritance by Col. Siborne's son, and their sale to a Mr Henry Brace of Edmonton, Alberta in October 1926

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extremley fine and appear in unfired as new condition.