Fabulous Cased Pair of Flintlock Dueling Pistols by Henry Nock, London, ca. 1800

Description

Featuring 9 3/4″ browned octagonal .62 caliber Damascus barrels with gold band and
rectangular gold-filled cartouch bearing the name “H. NOCK/LONDON” at the breech
(Henry Nock, 1741-1804, Gunmaker to His Majesty King George III); dovetailed silver front
blade sight and silver-lined vent hole. Lock plates with sliding safety and gold-filled
rectangular cartouche bearing the name “H. NOCK”; engraved serpentine cock and roller
frizzen spring. Walnut half stocks with checkered grips, engraved steel spur trigger, lock
screw, and ramrod thimbles; vacant oval silver escutcheon on wrist and oval silver
medallions around the barrel pins. Original wood ramrods with gilt brass tips. In period
green velvet-lined mahogany case with brass mounts and including brass powder flask,
associated bullet mold, and bearing an original label of the reseller Edward Whistler,
proprietor of a business at 11 Strand, near Trafalgar Square selling new and second hand
guns, pistols, silver and jewels. A London directory for 1852 had an entry for ‘Edward
Whistler (from the late C. Vaughan’s), silversmith & pawnbroker, & dealer in second hand
plate, jewellery, guns, pistols & rifles, 11 Strand’. While the label post dates the pistols,
the case is possibly the original, having been re-labeled when these guns were offered for
resale. Two covered compartments in the case, one with several lead balls and the other
with what appears to be a lock of long blond hair- perhaps associated with an affair of
honor. Pistols in very good plus condition with metal near excellent and minor dents and
handling marks to wood. Mahogany case with handling marks and a 4″ crack in the lid. A
really lovely pair of original dueling pistols by one of England’s best-known makers.