A Cased Pair of English Flintlock Dueling / Officer's Pistols by KNUBLEY, LONDON Featured on National Geographic Channel's TV SHOW LORDS OF WAR

A Beautiful Cased Pair of English Flintlock Dueling / Officer's Pistols by KNUBLEY, LONDON Featured on National Geographic Channel's TV SHOW "LORDS OF WAR", circa. 1771-1797.  8.25", .67 cal. octagon steel smooth-bore barrels secured to the stocks by (2) keys/wedges with engraved barrel tangs and the top flat engraved with the remnants of "LONDON", (2) large "CROSSED SEPTRE" PROOF marks stamped on the left side of the breeches and both barrels retain 95% of an old re-finish.  The flat beveled steel locks with stepped tails, sliding safeties, and boarder line engraving maker signed "KNUBLEY".  Both locks have high quality frizzen springs with rollers.  High quality engraved steel furniture includes trigger guards with pineapple finials (all steel furniture retains remnants of original blue finish in protected areas but little remains).  Original horn tipped wood ram rods, (1) with the iron worm.  Both walnut stocks have some minor stress cracks at the muzzle with excellent deep checkering at the wrist and are solid with sharp edges.  Both pistols have minimal light scratches and dings from years of handling.  Both barrels exhibit light salt & pepper rust pitting around the touch holes.  Both pistols are in their original flintlock configuration and are in good mechanical working order.  A beautiful pair of dueling/Officer's pistols !

Each pistol measures: 14" overall.

NOTE - Both barrels have been re-finished at some point in time and in doing so, the gunsmith removed most of the engraved "LONDON" on the top flats of each barrel.

PROVENANCE - These pistols are featured on one of the episodes of my TV show on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL'S "LORDS OF WAR".  I actually fired one of the pistols on the show to demonstrate how it worked.  ***I do not recommend ANYONE to fire any antique weapon unless it is for education purposes performed by a trained professional.***

ACCESSORIES INCLUDE - a wonderful 3-way powder flask by JAMES DIXON & SONS, SHEFFIELD, bullet mold, tow, lead balls, extra flints, turn screw, ram rod/cleaning rod, and patches. 

ORIGINAL BOX -  High Quality Period English pistol box made with early flush fitting lifting handle on the top of the lid and Measures: 16" X 8" X 3" with correct early English green baize lining.  It is our opinion that these pistols are not original to the box but a very good marriage.  There is evidence that the internal layout was altered to fit these pistols.  Key for front lock is missing.  Both of the front brass swing hooks are intact.  

The Gun Maker: John Knubley, Gun maker Otley, Yorkshire, 1771.  Sword Cutler & Gun Maker, 11 Charing Cross, 1786-1793; 7 Charing Cross, 1794.  Gun Maker to the Prince of Wales, Duke of Clarence and Prince Edward.  Contractor to the TOWER OF LONDON Ordnance (cannon locks, trade muskets, pistols, and broadswords, 1790-1794.  Died in 1795.  Business taken over by Samuel Brunn, continued under Knubley name until 1797.  Succeeded by John Mallett.

Ref., p. 128.  GUNMAKERS OF LONDON 1350-1850 by, Howard L. Blackmore., c. 1986. 

TTI-576422