April 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, April 2nd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/2/2013
Attractive matching pair of vintage North African flintlock pistols, dating to the late 18th or early 19th century. Procured in a Tangiers market, pistols represent Tangiers as the Barbary Coast's hub of commerce, piracy and the slave trade at the dawn of the New Imperialism period. Weapons, likely crafted for dueling, feature bone inlays and decorative trigger guards, with ornately hand-tooled brass-wrapped barrel and hand-hammered nails. Butts are adorned with clay or red semi-precious stones, possibly coral. Flintlock mechanisms are operable, with workable hammers on flat banana form lockplates with powder pan, frizzen and strong mainspring. Flintlock mechanism on pistol with brown patina is tight, but operable. Each measure approximately 25'' long. Barrels measure approximately 14''. Muzzle diameters measure approximately 0.5''. Rubbing to decorative brass, else near fine.
Pair of Ornate Late 18th / Early 19th Century Barbary Coast Flintlock Pistols
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