A Cased Pair Of Flintlock Pistols Of Carbine Bore

A Cased Pair Of Flintlock Pistols Of Carbine Bore By Hampton Of Birmingham, Circa 1815-20 With rebrowned twist octagonal sighted barrels, recessed patent breeches each with gold lines and platinum-lined touch-hole, sighted tangs each engraved with a trophy and foliage, border engraved flat bevelled locks (mainsprings removed and in the case) each signed in gothic script and decorated with a starburst behind the rainproof pan and with foliage at the stepped rounded tail, foliate engraved cocks, engraved safety-catches and rollers, figured half-stocks (old bruising, one fore-stock with repaired split) each with chequered rounded butt, steel mounts comprising border engraved butt-caps each decorated with a flower-head centred on the retaining screw, trigger-guards each with a symmetrical design of foliage on the border engraved bow, and trigger-plates each with pineapple finial, shield-shaped vacant silver escutcheons, barrel-bolt escutcheons (bolts damaged) and fore-end caps, and original brass-mounted ramrods (some rust patination): in their brass-mounted mahogany case fitted and lined in green velvet with some accessories including powder-flask with embossed copper body, the exterior of the lid with shaped brass plate incorporating a flush-fitting brass carrying handle, Birmingham proof marks 20 cm. barrels Footnotes: The maker is almost certainly Thomas Hampton of Birmingham recorded as 'Manufacturer of arms to His Majesty's Honourable Board of Ordnance, and of all kinds of fine fowling pieces, gun & pistols for exportation'. He is known to have marked his firearms 'London', and died in 1824 This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com