45 - BELGIUM, late 18th century

BELGIUM, late 18th century BERLEUR. Pair of marine pistols. Flintlock mechanisms, with round frames and swan-neck hammers. Bronze barrels with two registers: the upper part with thunderhead flanges, the lower part round, signed on the band. Smoothbore. Caliber 13.5 mm. Long walnut stocks, with handles carved with thunder-flower motifs and drops at the rear of the lock plates. Later tapered with the addition of an oval steel cap. Cut-metal fittings. With two slender iron rods, with turned heads, likely added later (the heads are very small relative to the caliber of the guns). Barrel length: 14 cm - Overall length: 26.5 - 26 cm. As is. Wear, scratches, and dents; a few chips and cracks, notably one at the muzzle end of one barrel (near the barrel retaining pin); on the other section of the stock, which is recessed along the barrel, between the lock plate and the muzzle; tarnished bronze on the barrels; one hammer spring is stiff, the other needs adjustment, as it remains stuck in the cocked position; some oxidation, notably on the caps and the reverse side of one barrel (the other has not been disassembled). BERLEUR Michel (1780/1810) or Guillaume (1780/1840), brothers who were arquebusiers, manufacturers, and gunsmiths in Liège. Probably a war trophy with the pommels modified in the English style. Provenance: “Aux Armes de France” Gallery, owned by Charles Marchal, Paris.