Product Details
A CASED PAIR OF 22-BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS SIGNED OAKES, LONDON, no visible serial numbers,
circa 1790, with octagonal 9 1/8in. barrels signed in script on the top-flats 'OAKES, LONDON', applied white metal blade fore-sights, standing 'U' notch rear-sights to the engraved top-tangs, platinum lined touch-holes, borderline engraved flat locks with moulded edges and stepped and pointed tails (traces of colour), swan-necked cocks with bolted safes (one well repaired at neck, the other with small crack forming), shallow pans with roller frizzen-springs, 'OAKES' signature below the pans, walnut full-stocks with slab-sided bag-shaped grips, iron furniture and worm-ended horn-tipped ramrods, in a period oak casing with 'JOHN RICHARDS' parchment trade-label advertising all manner of services including 'Mahogany & Wainscot Boxes Containing Every Useful & Necessary Implement For Shooting', the case lined and compartmented in green baize (faded and stained) and including a mahogany loading rod, a three-way flask and a scissors ball mould, flush folding 'D' shaped handle to lid and hook and lock closure
Provenance: The gun maker is almost certainly Samuel Oakes, who attempted (but failed) to become a contractor to Ordnance in 1778, but successfully traded from various London addresses till 1791.
John Richards was also a successful gunmaker who also supplied requisites to the trade. The particular label in this case dates it to between 1782-1808 and contemporary with the pistols
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Estimate £4,000-6,000