A Wonderful PAIR of English Flintlock Pistols of the American Revolutionary War Period by CLEMMES & BARBAR

A Wonderful PAIR of English Flintlock Pistols of the American Revolutionary War Period by CLEMMES & BARBAR.  9", .60 cal. round steel multi-stage barrels marked with (2) "Crossed Scepter" Proofs and a small "Star" over "I B" (Barrel Maker, James Barbar) and engraved on the top of each breech, "Clemmes Strand Piccadilly / London / Suc. to Barbar" (worn).  The convex locks have simple line and hound's-tooth border engraving and is maker signed "CLEMMES" within a stylized surround.  The pistols are in their original flintlock configuration with no replacement parts or restoration.  The all steel furniture is fully engraved and chased which includes wonderful chiseled openwork and embossed rococo side plates of classic Georgian form, vacant, acanthus leaf finial, wrist escutcheons, trigger guards with urn-type finials, and long-eared butt caps.  All steel parts have been cleaned in the past leaving remnants of light salt & pepper rust pitting (some areas worse than others).  Correct and most likely original horn tipped wood ram rods (one with iron worm).  The stocks are solid with a few stress age cracks, have fine high-relief decorative carving around the barrel tangs terminating in a scallop shell designs as well as raised panel tear drops around the lock mortises.  The overall condition of the stocks are very fine with sharp edges with light scratches and dings from years of service.  15.5" overall length.  A fantastic pair of pistols in good mechanical working order.  These pistols may have seen service in the American Revolutionary War, 1776-1783 !

NOTE: One pistol stock has a small upper edge wood repair on the left side of fore-end.

ABOUT THE MAKER: Theophilus CLEMMES, Shug Lane, Piccadilly, 1752-1789.  Successor to James BARBAR.  Ref. p. 71, GUNMAKERS OF LONDON 1350-1850., by Howard Blackmore, c. 1986.

TTI-571322

PRIVATE COLLECTION, Consignment; Ben S. 2022 #8 (PAIR).