‡ A PAIR OF 34 BORE NORTH GERMAN SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION RIFLED TARGET PISTOLS IN THE FRENCH

‡ A PAIR OF 34 BORE NORTH GERMAN SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION RIFLED TARGET PISTOLS IN THE FRENCH TASTE MADE FOR WILHELM, DUKE OF BRUNSWICK AND LÜNEBURG (1806-1884), BY G.L. RASCH, CIRCA 1835-40 with browned twist swamped sighted polygroove rifled barrels inscribed ‘Damas D’ Acier’ in gold capitals in a slender silver frame on the flats, engraved breeches with engraved percussion bolsters, engraved breech tangs with adjustable back-sights and numbered ‘I’ and ‘II’ respectively, figured walnut full stocks (small cracks and bruises), finely chequered butts with oval pommels inset with silver caps engraved with the crowned royal initials ‘W’ between fronds within a foliate frame, spurred silver scroll-engraved trigger-guards engraved steel trigger-plates with shaped foliate finials, vacant German silver escutcheons and barrel bolt escutcheons, steel ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end caps, and horn-tipped ramrods, and brass inventory tags 465 and 466, 17.4 cm barrels (2) Provenance Probably the Brunswick Ducal Gunroom Schloss Marienburg, sold Sotheby's 5th-15th October 2005, lot 757.