The 91st London Antique­ Arms Fair

Autumn 2013

Hotel Ibis London Earls Court, 47 Lillie Road, London, SW6 1UD

Friday 27 September Saturday 28 September

A rare medieval sword from the Mamluk Arsenal at Alexandria. Second half of the 14th Century, probably Italian. Sold by Bonhams Knightsbridge on 18 November 2012 for £163,250 1 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide HERMANN HISTORICA

A gold- and silver inlaid splendid , F. Morgenroth, Gernrode/Anhalt, dated 1844 Parts of a Maximilian armour, Nuremberg, circa 1510/20 N E x T AuCTION: 4 Nov. - 16 Nov. 2013 6 catalogues of military and historical significance including 2 special collection catalogues - The Friedrich Hebsacker collection of Arms & Armour - uniforms of German Military and Political units 1933 - 1945

All catalogues online by the end of September: www.hermann-historica.com A Spanish/Italian left-hand dagger, circa 1670 A drop barrel target pistol, Anton Vinzent Lebeda, Prague, circa 1880

A magnificent wheellock pistol, Nuremberg, circa 1590/1600

A fine chiselled bichwa, South India, Tanjore, 17th century Historical Collectibles ✦

A Swiss pistol, circa 1640

Orders Orders Antique Arms & Armour ✦ Wednesday 27 November Enquiries +44 (0) 20 7393 3807 Knightsbridge, London +44 (0) 7768 823 711 [email protected] Entries now invited A fine pair of silver-mounted flintlock holster pistols, A late Scythian/early Sarmatian by Benjamin Griffin, London, steppe-nomadic silver bowl, late London silver hallmarks for 1750 4th - 3rd cen tury BC Sold for £17,500 A magni ficent silver stirrup, Otto man A Greek Illyrian helmet, A Balochistan/Afghan (?) khanjar or Transyl vanian, 17th century 5th - early 4th century BC with silver handle, 17th century

Hermann Historica oHG ✦ Linprunstr. 16 ✦ D-80335 Munich ✦ Phone +49-89-54726490 International Auctioneers and Valuers – bonhams.com/arms 2 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide ✦ International Auctions Antique Arms and Armour Fax +49-89-547264999 E-Mail: [email protected] Values stated include buyer’s premium. Details can be found at bonhams.com

LonArmFair_1p_4c_A67.indd 1 03.09.2013 15:32:31 Uhr Master Gunmaker Restorer of Antique Arms

Cased pair of D/B Percussion Officers The London Antique­ Pistols by John Manton. Arms Fairs 2013

The London Antique Arms Fair is promoted by Arms Fairs Ltd. Chairman: John Slough A welcome from the Chairman 7 Cased Percussion Pepperbox Secretary: Adam Slough. by Parker of London. Arms Fairs Ltd., PO Box 355, The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917 Hereford HR2 9YE Tel: 07780 663819 By John Slough E-mail: [email protected] 11 Website: www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk

Editors: John Slough and Adam Slough Index of advertisers 23

The London Antique Arms Fair guide Cased pair of Percussion is published on behalf of Arms Fairs Ltd by John Good. Index of exhibitors Dueling Pistols by Samuel Nock. 24 © Arms Fairs Ltd., 2013. Printed in England. Table plan for the fair 26 All material contained within is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is The By F Wilkinson 28 PO Box 355 • Hereford • HR2 9YE taken in compiling the publication, but Tel: 07775 643762 the publishers can bear no responsibility for effects arising therefrom or from the King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot by Paul Wilcock E-mail: [email protected] advertisements contained herein. 36 www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk All information correct at time of printing. Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion 40 by R.L. Wilson

4 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 5

John Slough Antique Arms Ad A4 21 1 11/4/10 22:52:18 A Welcome from the Chairman

Welcome to the 91st London Antique Arms Fair

This year we will have considerably more exhibitors than ever with more tables full of the best examples of arms and armour from all around the world.

It always amazes me that when the London Arms Fair time comes around so many high quality items come out of safes, cupboards and lofts, out of private collections to see the light of day and be on display at the fair.

Record prices achieved for items of arms and armour selling at auction in the last six months proves yet again that exhibitors at the Cannon and artillery for hire for fi lm industry, TV, theatre, concerts and gun salutes. fair are providing one of the best forms of investment available at the present time. Confidence in banks and building societies John Slough of London have been in the business of restoration and conservation of cannon and artillery of all periods for over 40 years. is at an all time low and there are few attractive alternatives to collecting items of such craftsmanship and quality as we have to  e fi lm industry’s increasing need for blank fi ring big guns with experienced armourers and fi ring team means we now have a dedicated of offer, not to mention the joy of owning them. period cannon and artillery ready for hire as well as the ability to produce any custom made piece for individual requirements. This April saw the introduction of a new and exciting feature at the fair. On the second day we staged the first ever exhibitors’ auction to be held at a London fair. This type of auction is very popular at many American gun shows. 9 Pdr RML Field gun 18 pdr QF Field gun Complete on period fi eld carriage Complete on its original fi eld carriage There is no entry fee, the auctioneer’s commission is only 10% and most radically of all, there is no buyer’s premium.

Members of the public wishing to put items into the sale may do so through any one of the current exhibitors.

Lots may be entered into the sale from early September and will be on view at the fair in a designated area. The sale commences at 12 midday on Saturday.

Over the years I have been approached by collectors and exhibitors to hold such an auction at the fair. This in no way reflects on the existing auction houses as there is no doubt that they have an essential role to play in our business bringing to the market items of interest and importance from great collections from around the world.

However, I believe that there should be an opportunity for items to be sold by exhibitors at auction at no extra cost to the purchaser. We are able to do this by cutting out many of the overheads and extra costs that have arisen over the years for the auction houses such as the huge cost of premises in London, the production of beautiful, detailed sale catalogues distributed worldwide. They provide telephone bidding and now also internet bidding all of which has to be staffed and paid for and none 200 muzzle loading cannon and mortars 24 pdr reproduction cast iron Scottish of it comes cheap. Used for the Battle Proms concerts Complete on period carriage At our auction a list is produced in advance, sale entries are displayed at the fair in a designated area. People wishing to bid should register at the admission desk and receive a Bidder’s number. There will be no telephone or internet bidding and most importantly no Buyer’s premium. It is in fact a good old fashioned sale where you view the lots, bid for them, pay only the hammer price and clear the lots all on the same day!

I myself have some experience in this field having once worked for the last auction rooms in the City of London, B. Norman & Son of Little Britain, EC1. Sadly it closed in 1967 having been in the same family since 1824, thus marking the end of an era. I do hope you all enjoy, not only the fair, but also the auction where you can make sound investments for the future and enjoy some wonderful examples of outstanding craftsmanship.

‘Here’s to the good life’

John Slough of London, Master Gunmaker, e Old Forge, Peterchurch, Hereford HR2 0SD John Slough 6 The London AntiqueTel: Arms 07775 Fair 643Guide 762 Email: [email protected] www.artilleryhire.com The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 7 Chairman an HiSToric GErman (SaXon) WHEEL-LocK carbinE, DrESDEn, dated 1589

Provenance: From the former Electoral armouries in Dresden, from a series of one hundred carried by the Trabantenleibgarde of christian i, prince Elector of Saxony (r.1586-91).

SpEciaLiSTS in anTiquE armS, armour & rELaTED obJEcTS

38 & 39 Duke Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6DF

Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 5666 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 5777 E-mail: [email protected] www.peterfiner.com

8 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 9 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917 By John Slough

The 6in BL naval gun dates from 1899, as well as a naval gun it was also used for coastal defence. In 1915 these guns were used as heavy field artillery in the First World War.

The earlier gun of the 1890s needed to them with the new 106 fuse enabled the complete existing gun but the culmination be upgraded to increase its rate of fire shell to burst above ground on instant of several years of us searching for parts and trajectory. After much experimenting contact instead of forming craters. The far and wide throughout the country with it was decided that a 6in BL gun could MK VII was superseded by many 6in guns the idea that once the major components be loaded and fired as quickly and as but its durability and its place in history is had been identified and procured then smoothly as a 6in QF gun. The cordite assured. our goal could be achieved. ‘Us’ being charges in their innovative silk bags were myself and my gunmaker Derek Jenkins deemed to save a considerable amount With a maximum range on the field who has been restoring guns with me for of weight in the magazine compared to carriage of 13,700 yds with a load of over twenty years. the bulky brass of the QF cases. 13lb 5oz of Lyddite the shrapnel shell contained 874 steel balls weighing a total A major problem we faced was that after These guns were considered to be state of 27lbs. The is 2,775 the Great War many of the remaining big of the art by the Royal Navy and went on ft per second, the rate of fire 8 rounds guns were scrapped, sold to overseas to see service on armed merchant cruisers per minute, and the barrel length of 22ft countries or converted to meet the well into and beyond the Second World 4in. A total of 898 guns of all marks were requirements of our modern army. War. In field service these guns were produced between 1915 and 1918. manned by the Royal Garrison Artillery; The MK 2 carriage we were lucky enough their successful deployment in the Battle The restoration of this 6in Howitzer started to find was one of the first carriages of the Somme as counter battery fire has in earnest in October 2011. This was not designed for the 8in Howitzer by Vickers always been seriously under-rated. Fitting just a matter of the refurbishment of a & subcontracted to Beyer & Peacock of

10 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 11 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917

to see that before they ever arrived at hubs for the pneumatic tyres and the Shoeburyness they had been used as static adaption metalwork ,leaving the artillery in the field with either 6in or 7.2 trail, saddle, axle and recuperator to be guns and that they had been converted dismantled, repaired, sandblasted then to have pneumatic tyres before being treated against the onset of rust inside further altered to static mounts used for and out before repainting in WW1 green. proofing guns. We acquired a pair of original wheels that had been converted for farm use from Two of these four carriages were given to an auction in Bury St Edmunds and using English Heritage: they had no barrels and original drawings from the Firepower so were scrapped. Two were donated to archive we were able to restore them Royal Armouries, one of which went to to fit the carriage. We converted back a dealer on the south coast but it only from the pneumatic tyres the brake consists of the saddle and the front half system and put back the original brass of the trail; it still exists. hand wheels from Shoeburyness. Then came the serious task of bending and hot Manchester. These early carriages were his guns. These guns played their part in The one remaining passed from Royal riveting the angle supports which run the prone to failure in the field because of winning the victory over the Boers. So Armouries to a private museum in whole length of the underside of the trail the weakness of the metal along the it was that his services were once again Stratford upon Avon where it remained using the traditional hot rivets in the time slideways. Vickers proceeded to beef up used to design a stop gap carriage for the for a number of years. We were aware honoured fashion. the design in later marks to accommodate 6in MK VII BL gun. It was designated as of this carriage and its location but left it the 8in Howitzer. It should be noted that 6in BL MK VII on the Percy Scott carriage. in abeyance until we could find a barrel. Then came the recuperator which this type of box trail enabled the gun to needed to be re-machined together with fire at a greater trajectory and was used The early carriages which failed on the This I must say was quite a daunting the slideways, it had been distorted over on the 4.5 Howitzer in the Great War; it 8in Howitzers were sent to Beyer & prospect. However at Firepower, the years of wear as a proofing mount. This became the basic design for the 25pdr Peacock for conversion to 6in Howitzers Royal Regiment of Artillery museum, part of the job was quite an undertaking Gun/Howitzer that was used by British in 1916. They did this by putting a smaller a 6in barrel was discovered during as it weighs about 4 tons and had to be and Dominion artillerymen through World new slideway inside the existing 8in the course of their move from the old put up on a milling machine and allowed War 2 and beyond even to this day. slideway and fitting a new recuperator Rotunda building and thanks to our long to travel 6ft in each direction. This would thereby reducing the recoil of the original association with the museum we were have been no problem to Beyer & At the outbreak of the First World War from 47in down to just 20in. However delighted to receive it. Peacock as they made steam locomotives Britain was, not for the first time, short it made the whole gun and carriage roll on a huge scale. of heavy artillery but we did have an back by about 6ft when the gun was fired We were now in a position to buy the abundance of 6in BL MK VII guns which so this was addressed by the building of carriage from the Stratford museum. We The quadrant was our next task: with this were used for coastal defence. At first the ramps for the carriage to run up. It clearly already had most of the breech which there should be the angular piece which Ministry of War called upon the expertise worked but could not have done much came from a disposal at Shoeburyness transforms the power from the turning of Admiral Percy Scott who, as a captain for accuracy. some years before. of the elevation wheel to the elevating serving on H.M.S. Terrible during the and depressing of the gun in its cradle. Boer War removed the 12pdrs and 4.7 It was one of these carriages together The first thing we did was to remove all This was missing from the carriage, so guns from his ship and designed and had with three others which were discovered the components that had been added with no chance of finding an original, we field carriages built in South Africa to fit at Shoeburyness in the 1980s. It was plain to the original carriage including the decided to make one, again with the help of drawings from the Firepower archive. We made a wooden pattern and had it cast for us at Shentons Foundry in Tipton in the Black Country; this company has been a great help to us over the years, they have a good sense of history and understand our aims in preserving and saving heavy artillery for the future.

We then set about restoring the barrel from the Rotunda. It was minus its breech ring so we made this by machining the outer ring in three pieces then bolting and welding it together to form a piece of steel with an outside diameter of 24in and a thickness of 18in. The front two rings encompassed the outside of the chamber, then bored internally to fit the o.d. of the inner ring that was machined to fit the interrupted thread of the original breech block.

12 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 13 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917 The Saving of a 6in BL Howitzer circa 1917

The carrier support, that is to say the female half of the hinge that carries the breech block was then added to the outside of the ring. The making of the inner ring with the interrupted thread was carried out by David McLaughlin of Ross- shire he has a C.N.C. Machine big enough to cope with this job and the experience necessary for making interrupted threads. He was able to use our breech block as a male pattern to calculate the correct thread to make the female thread in the ring. With this in place we were able to assemble the entire original breech mechanism along with an original firing pistol and block. This mechanism works by inserting a firing charge contained in what appears to be a centre fire rifle blank cartridge: when struck by the firing pin the charge is sent through the obturator then into the bag charge.

At this stage we began the assembly of the complete gun, leaving only the peripheries which include the sights and tools to add to the gun when assembled. The sights were made up from drawings and period photographs: the No.7 dial sight is original as is the telescope sight, the mounts were made to suit. The photographs of the original also showed a No.1 dial sight which is very rare so we made a copy using the one at Firepower as a pattern. With the exception of the original No.7 dial sight case all the leather boxes on the carriage are newly made by our cordwainer Mike East.

With a 1 inch aiming rife complete in its box strapped to the rear of the trail with the hand spikes and loading tray, the gun is now complete.

Proofing of the gun was undertaken outside our factory at Peterchurch in Herefordshire by Jeff Darbon from the London Proof House using a two pound black powder blank bag charge compressed with 4lb of sand. We alerted our neighbours to the event so we were joined by quite a few people keen to witness the event of firing the first 6in gun from the First World War for nearly 100 years.

The finished gun in all its glory has made its final journey to a film maker in New Zealand.Everyone involved in this unique restoration is pleased and proud to have “saved the gun”.

14 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 15 Master Gunmaker Restorer of Artillery Antique Arms requires

DRAGOON • POCKET • NAVY • ARMY • POLICE • SEMI-AUTOS • 1873 SINGLE ACTIONS • 1877/8 DOUBLE ACTIONS

Plus ALL COLT Accessories, Cases, Moulds, Flasks, Holster, Books and Associated Material

Beautiful Nimschke-style engraved Smith & Wesson Second Model American single revolver serial number 17837 with eight inch barrel and two-piece ivory grips manufactured circa 1873 A 13pdr Q. F. field gun – P.O.A.

PO Box 355 Hereford HR2 9YE BUY • SELL • TRADE • • ALSO DEALING IN REMINGTON l S&W l WINCHESTER Tel: 07775 643762 E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 1199, Guildford, GU1 9JR www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk Telephone: 01483 277788 Fax: 01483 277784 Mobile: 07778 008008 email: [email protected] Website: www.peteholder.co.uk

16 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 17

John Slough Artillery Ad A4 20101 1 11/4/10 22:52:45 FISCHER Auctions of Antique Arms and Armours

A magnificent imperial Austrian wheel-lock rifle, ca. 1650. Stock carved from the so-called Master of the animal headed scrolls. Butt with the monogram E inlaid in silver, the empress Eleonora was the third wife of emperor Ferdinand III. of Austria. Sold in September 2013 for CHF 96.000 | GBP 65.000 (incl. buyer's premium).

Galerie Fischer Auktionen AG Haldenstrasse 19 www.fischerauktionen.ch CH - 6006 Lucerne tel. +41 (0)41 418 10 10 Next auction sale: 11 to 12 September 2014 fax +41 (0)41 418 10 80 e-mail: [email protected] We are pleased to accept your consigments. 18 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 19

LondonArmsFairGuide_autumn2013.indd 1 16.09.2013 21:38:43 SPRING 2014 25 & 26 April Antique Arms, Armour, Sporting Guns & Militaria Don’t want to carry valuables? The oldest and most prestigious antique arms fair in the country We offer a secure delivery service fully insured Opening Times door to door within the UK Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm for items purchased at the Arms Fair. Saturday 9.00am – 2.00pm

TickeT infOrmaTiOn a Fine cased Pair OF Speak to our staff on the admissions desk 44-bOre FLintLOck or ring 07780 663 819. Friday £15 dueLLing PistOLs by Allows access both days JOhn mantOn & sOn, dOver street, LOndOn, Saturday £7 nO. 6395 FOr 1815. sOLd by bOnhams Children under 14 – free with knightsbridge On 18 aPriL an adult. Admission on door 2012 FOr £38,450.

The 92nd London Antique Arms Fair Hotel Ibis London Earls Court, 47 Lillie Road, London SW6 1UD

Organised by arms Fairs Ltd directOrs John Slough & Adam Slough 20 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 21 07780 663 819 www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk

AF Ad A4 Spring 2014.indd 1 11/9/13 07:14:49 index of advertisers Index of advertisers

Name Page No Name Page No

Antique & Classic Arms Fairs 23 Gwilliam, E.A.F 51

Britain’s Specialist Auctioneers of Arms Fairs Ltd 20 - 21 Henry Krank 10 Arms, Armour, Medals & Militaria Artillery Hire 6 Hermann Historica 2

Battle Proms 33 Hertsmere Fine Antique Arms Fair 35

Bonhams 3 John Slough of London 4 & 16

Bristol Fine Antique Arms Fair 35 Magazin Royal 34

Combat Stress 19 Magnificent Colts 39

Finer, Peter 8-9 Pete Holder Antique American Firearms 17

Fischer Auctioneers 18 Thomas Del Mar Ltd 52

Wallis & Wallis 22 A cased pair of officer’s pistols by , Martin Giles Antiques 34 reserved for the Autumn Connoisseur Collectors’ Auction

THE BISLEY ANTIQUE

A cased double barrelled percussion sporting gun by Manton, together with a percussion pistol/walking stick gun by Edward London, reserved for the Autumn Connoisseur Collectors’ Auction CLASSIC& ARMS FAIR OCTOBER 15 & 16 www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk Autumn CONNOISSEUR COLLECTORS’ THE BISLEY PAVILION AUCTION & SALE 557 Sunday 27th October 2013 Connoisseur Collectors’ colour illustrated catalogue £16, R of W £17 Sunday 30tH March 2014 Regular Sale catalogue £9.50, Europe £10, R of W £10.50 (All prices include postage) A SPECIAL DAY FOR COLLECTORS AND SHOOTERS. ‘Get to know the real value of your collection’ – our last ten sale catalogues ALL THE LEADING DEALERS. are available, complete with prices realised, price £30 incl. postage. DEALERS AND COLLECTORS’ PREVIEW 8.00am, £6.00 PUBLIC ADMISSION 10am, £3.00 All our auctions are ‘live’online with ENQUIRIES: PHONE 020 8452 3308 or 020 8200 6384 No charge for payment with debit card

22email:The [email protected] London Antique Arms Fairg Guide website: http://www.wallisandwallis.org The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 23 index of exhibitors index of exhibitors

English Arms & Armour Mellanoweth House, Back Lane, Angarrack, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 5JE (Terry English) Tel. 01736 753444 31

Flintlocks at War (Richard Smith) Taunton Antiques Market, Silver St, Taunton, TA1 3DH Index of exhibitors Mob. 07969 599 076 www.flintlocksatwar.com [email protected] 34 - 35

Name Address and contact numbers Table No(s) Garth Vincent Antique Arms & Armour The Old Manor House, Allington, Nr Grantham, Lincs NG32 2DH A.A.S.N. Ltd. (Andrew Kiselev) Office 3 17 Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 1DT, Tel. 07989 236341 (Dom Vincent) Mob. 07809 710599 Tel. 01400 281358 Fax. 01400 282658 [email protected] 29 www.garthvincent.com [email protected] 97 - 98

Akaal Arms Ltd (Runjeet Singh) Warwickshire, UK Mob. 07866 424803 Gwilliam, E. A. F. Candletree House, Cricklade, nr Swindon SN6 6AX www.akaalarms.com [email protected] 18 - 19 Tel. 01793 750241 Fax. 01793 750359 Mob. 07836 613632 [email protected] [email protected] www.edredgwilliam.com 7 - 9 Antique & Classic Arms Fairs (Cliff Fuller) Mob. 07850 373197 Tel. 0208 200 6384 www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk [email protected] 49 H.B.S.A. (David Frohnweiser) BCM HBSA, London, WC1N 3XX Tel. 07703 218 639 Mob. 07919 574423 Antique Sword Trader (Geoff Sherwin) Hamley House, Appleton Le Moors, York YO62 6TF 01751 417487 07795 344795 www.hbsa-uk.org [email protected] 54 www.antiqueswordtrader.co.uk [email protected] 48 Hatford Antiques (P. Smith) Hatford Cottage, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8JF Tel. 01367 710241 Appleby, Michael Wimbledon, London SW20 Tel. 020 8946 2495 61 - 62 [email protected] 109 Arbour Antiques & Arian Trading 1 The Monkery, Church Rd, Great Milton, OX44 7PB Hobson, G. J. Daccombe Mill, Coffinswell, Devon TQ12 4SY (George Yannaghas) Tel. 01844 278139 Mob. 07768 604202 Tel. 01803 873121 [email protected] Mob. 07812 133 149 32 www.arbourantiques.co.uk www.ariantrading.com [email protected] 72 - 74 Huw Williams Antiques The Antique Shop, Madoc St, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NL Tel. 01766 514741 Fax. 01766 514741 Mob. 07785 747561 Arms and Armour Research Group www.hud.ac.uk/armsandarmour [email protected] www.antiquegunswales.co.uk 37 (Paul Wilcock) University of Huddersfield/Royal Armouries [email protected] 50 Iosson, Andrew 211 Ringinglow Road, Bents Green, Sheffield S11 7PT Arms & Armour Society (A. Dove) PO Box 10232, London SW19 2ZD 101 Tel. 0114 2366360 Mob. 07979 648663 Ashoka Arts Tel. 07870 105285 www.ashokaarts.com [email protected] 30 www.finesportingcollectablesltd.co.uk [email protected] 36

Asian Arms (Tony Paul) Mob. 07973 822 996 www.asianarms.com [email protected] 70 - 71 JC Militaria Ltd (John Carlin) 1 South Parade, Bramhall, Cheshire SK7 3BH Tel: 0161 476 0436 Mob: 07786 707 191www.jcmilitaria.com [email protected] 64 - 65 Battle Proms Concerts (Adam Slough) Tel. 01432 355 416 www.battleproms.com [email protected] 88 John Slough Auctions (John Slough) Items for sale at Saturday auction on view Tel. 07775 643 762 44 Beadle, Alan 85 - 86 John Slough of London PO Box 355, Hereford HR2 9YE Tel. 07775 643762 Bonhams 1793 Ltd Antique Arms and Armour Department, Montpelier St, London SW7 1HH www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk [email protected] 1 - 6 Tel. +44 (0)207 393 3807 Fax. +44 (0)207 393 3932 Mob. 07768 823711 www.bonhams.com [email protected] 102 John Wilson Antiques Mob. 07941 477043 [email protected] 94 - 95

Bottomley, A. S. Holmfirth, Yorks Mob. 07770 398 270 Tel. 01484 685234 Jonathan Barrett Limited The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, Lewes BN7 2JA [email protected] www.andrewbottomley.com 105 - 107 Tel. 01273 486501 Mob. 07717 743 061 Fax. 01273 486501 www.jonathanbarrett.com [email protected] 25 - 26 British Cavalry Sword, The (Richard Dellar) 50 King Edward Rd, Bath BA2 3PB07913 652 228 www.thebritishcavalrysword.com [email protected] 103 Ken Trotman Ltd. PO Box 505, Huntingdon, PE29 2XW Tel. 01480 454292 Fax. 01480 384651 (Richard Brown) www.kentrotman.com [email protected] 99 - 100 Bryan, N.S. Mob. 07860 225 535 [email protected] 111 M. L. A. G. B. (Ken Hocking) PO Box 340, Sevenoaks, Kent Tel. 01732 463214 51 Cartlidge, Michael Tel. 07810 766755 [email protected] 69 Magazin Royal 65 Steenstraat, B1800, Vilvoorde, Belgium Tel. 0032 475492450 Cook, A. S. 132 Rydens Rd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 3DU, (Gilbert Putterie) Fax. 0032 22677537 [email protected] www.magazinroyal.be 90 - 91 Tel. 01932 228328 Fax. 01932 243126 www.antiquearms.co.uk [email protected] 82 - 83 Manuela Gil Antiguidades (Jose Silva) Rua Marquesa de Alorna 38c, 1700-304 Lisbon, Portugal Tel:(351) 218-464-313 Mob: (351) 964-055-915 www.manuelagil.pt [email protected] 87 Craddock, Richard Tel. 07747 117472 [email protected] 43 Davinder Toor Ltd (Davinder Toor) 95, High St, Langley, Slough SL3 8NG Martin Giles Antiques Barnet, Herts Tel. 020 8441 3380 Mob. 07860 782 286 Fax. 020 8441 3432 Tel. 07939 200 087 [email protected] 27-28 www.mgantiques.co.uk [email protected] 75 - 76

Dyson, P & Son Ltd 3 Cuckoo Lane, Honley, Holmfirth, W Yorks, HD9 6AS Tel. 01484 661062 Michael D. Long Ltd. 86 Ireton Rd, Leicester LE4 9ET Tel. +44 (0) 845 260 1910 Mob. +44 (0)7970 161701 Fax. 01484 663709 www.peterdyson.co.uk [email protected] 14 (Bob Hedger) Fax. +44 (0)871 250 1910 www.michaeldlong.com [email protected] 41 - 42

24 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 25 index of exhibitors index of exhibitors

Nobre, Eduardo Apartado 4217, 1503-001, Portugal [email protected] 88

Oriental Arms PO Box 55293, Haifa, Israel 34580 Tel. 00972 50 7587101 Fax. 00972 50 8251380 Table plan for the fair (Artzi Yarom) www.oriental-arms.com [email protected] 55 Parr, Ralph Sidegarth, Aughton, Lancaster LA2 6PG Tel. 01524 811808 Fax. 01524 811445 10 - 11

Pete Holder Antique American Firearms PO Box 1199, Guildford, GU1 9JR Tel. 01483 277788 Fax. 01483 277784 Mob. 07778 008 008 www.peteholder.com [email protected] 45 - 47 25 26 27 28 29 30

24 Petty, David 2 The Grange, Green Lane, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EN Tel. 01628 605519 77 - 78 31 ROA Antique Arms (Sue Davies) P O Box 1904, London WC1N 3XX

23 93 104

32 Tel: 01223 968 684 Mob: 0033 684 182 054 10 10 92 94

3 5 www.roaantiquearms.co.uk [email protected] 23 fire exit 33 Rod Akeroyd & Son (Rod/Jason) 20 Ribblesdale Place, Preston, PR1 3NA 01772 203845 Fax:01772 203855 07765 10 91 95 10

2 251532/07836 599464 www.firearmscollector.com [email protected] 16 - 17 22 6

34 Seidler, Christopher F. (Chris Seidler) PO Box 59979, London SW16 9AZ 0845 644 3674 10 7 21 www.antique-militaria.co.uk [email protected] 53 35 101 90 96

10 Spoils of War (David Hughes) Hop Hill Cottage, Aubourn, Lincoln, LN5 9DZ Tel. 01522 788807 8 Mob. 07784 002826 www.spoils-of-war.co.uk [email protected] 93 36

10 Stand of Arms (Chris Berry) Southgate, London N14 Tel. 0208 886 4730 Fax. 0208 482 2204 89 97 0 10 Mob. 07790 806364 www.standofarms.co.uk [email protected] 38 - 40 9

37 Thomas Del Mar Ltd 25 Blythe Rd, London W14 0PD Tel. 020 7602 4805 11 99 88 98

0 [email protected] www.thomasdelmar.com 110

20 87 111 38 39 40 40a 41 Wallis & Wallis (Roy Butler) West St Auction Galleries, 7-9 West St, Lewes, BN7 2NJ 01273 480208 Fax:01273 476562 www.wallisandwallis.org [email protected] 20 - 22 fire exit West Street Antiques (Jon Spooner) 63 West St., Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BS Tel. 01306 883487 Fax. 01306 883487 Mob. 07855 519934 www.antiquearmsandarmour.com [email protected] 67 - 68 42 19 Wilson, Pete 56 – 60 80 57

58 59 69 81 82 83

84 Yorke, P. ‘Quills’, Bagshot Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8DE Tel. 01276 857576 80 - 81 18 70 43 60 68 85 79 71 56 17 67 44 78 86 72 55 61 16 66 77 45 44a 73 54 62 15 65 76 46 1 74 53 63 64 reception 75 fire exit 47 51 50 48 47a 2 14

13 12 11 10 9 8 7 5 4 3

loading bay

26 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 27 The duel The duel

identical pistols. Since each was the naturally the gunmakers concentrated result of the combined efforts of several their efforts on improving its reliability. The Duel craftsmen pairs of pistols usually differ very Despite its basic simplicity the sequence slightly in detail if not in pattern. The next of events was complex involving a number By F Wilkinson step was to supply these pairs of pistols of actions, each of which occupied a complete with all necessary accessories small finite period of time but, added During the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries a man’s life expectancy seldom exceeded and by the late 18th century there was together, amounted to a slight delay an increasing market for cased duelling between the pressing of the and about forty years. Apart from the normal hazards of health and accident any gentlemen with a claim pistols. There seems to have developed a the shot firing. In a duel this might create growth in the status value of these cased just that difference between a lethal shot to social status faced an extra danger; that of being called out or challenged to a duel. Honour or sets and many gentlemen apparently felt and a miss. The aim of the lock-maker the need to own one. The owners often was to reduce friction between moving respect was a quality often valued above life itself by ‘gentlemen of quality’. Any personal insult or had an escutcheon on the case engraved surfaces and so shorten the time taken to with their coat-of-arms. Today cased pairs complete the action. sign of disrespect inevitably generated a demand for satisfaction, a challenge. Failure to accept and of duellers are highly prized by collectors as well as being highly priced. It was difficult to improve the basic fight ensured that the challenged faced a life as a social outcast, shunned by all with any pretension to internal mechanical system apart from In Britain in the late 18th and early ensuring that bearing surfaces were as gentility; accepting it meant putting his life at risk. It was essentially, but not exclusively a male problem A pair of percussion duelling pistols by 19th centuries there was no specific smooth as possible. Pressing the trigger John Manton & Son (No. 9129) dating law forbidding duelling but if it was set the whole sequence in motion and and a few between women are recorded. from 1822. The 40 bore barrels are rifled, known that a duel was planned the law the cock, holding the flint between its a most unusual feature suggesting they attempted to stop it in order to prevent a jaws, swung forward, striking sparks of may have been intended primarily for The reason for the challenge could be breach of the peace. Once a challenge glowing steel from the L-shaped frizzen. target shooting rather than duelling. They anything from an intentional insult, a had been issued every effort was made In order that the glowing sparks fell into are very early example of percussion casual comment, a light-hearted remark to prevent news of the forthcoming fight the priming pan the frizzen needed to tilt pistols, a new feature, but conservative or a quizzical look. At least one Irish duel from becoming common knowledge. forward lifting the pan cover and exposing in style...The barrels are octagonal and in 1792 was fought because one man The chosen site was usually well away the powder and here it was possible to sighted and have platinum plugs. The used a coach that had been booked by from the public eye. When swords were speed up matters. The toe of the frizzen signed locks have set triggers with safety another. Over the centuries prescribed used it was important to select a level pressed down on the spring and by bolts. The box retains many accessories rituals for the management of these piece of ground since fencing involved inserting a small wheel or roller at the including a three- way powder flask. deadly affairs developed and generally much footwork and there should be no point of contact friction was reduced. were followed by those involved. One chance of a stumble. The selected time formed a guard for the hand. The rapier feature of the various prescribed systems was usually early morning before most The flame from the burning priming was gradually modified and by the 18th or codes of honour was a basic concept people were about although at least one powder passed through the touch hole century was a lighter, shorter bladed that, as far as possible, neither combatant well recorded duel in 1782 took place in to initiate the main charge but burning weapon known as the small sword; had any physical advantage; each must the evening. powder left a deposit. If not removed this decorative but still a potentially lethal have an equal chance of surviving. could reduce or even block the touch weapon. The sword could be used on Essential to the whole procedure were hole potentially leading to a misfire as The Weapons its own or in combination with a dagger, the seconds, chosen friends of the the flame failed to ignite the main charge. lamp or shield held in the left hand. Until the middle of the 18th century duels duellists, who had to be of an appropriate On many duellers the barrel was drilled were normally fought with swords and social standing and were responsible for and a plug of gold or, from early in the With the demise of the wearing of a sword for most young gentlemen part of his delivering the challenge, fixing the time 19th century, platinum was inserted and and the growing availability of reliable education was learning to fence. There and place and the routine to be followed. the touch hole was drilled through it. firearms the pistol began to replace the were a number of schools of fence in It was not a task to be undertaken Both gold and platinum are noble metals blade as a chosen weapon for the duel. London and various styles of sword play without thought for, legally, the seconds which resist corrosion so ensuring a clear At first it seems that any two similar were developed and supported with were deemed to be as responsible as passage. Another development was the weapons would suffice but because of published manuals1. When swords were the fighters if any death occurred. There damp-proof pan, its shape so designed as the social standing of the participants used the blades were supposed to be are several well recorded cases when to reduce the chance of moisture seeping these were likely to be better quality of the same length but there was no the second and the principal were both into the priming powder. or officer’s pistols. In any situation that allowance given to the fencing skills of charged with murder but in very few necessitated the use of a pistol reliability the duellists and a vicious few dedicated cases was a capital verdict returned. On some pistols there is an internal safety was obviously of prime importance and duellers delighted in picking a fight with The seconds were responsible for the device known as a detent; this is a wedge- in a duel, even more so. The essential less adept swordsmen. Before the duel weapons and one of their tasks was to shaped block which drops into position features of shooting in a duel were a firm began instructions were made clear to An English cup hilt rapier of mid 17th supervise their loading. In the mid 18th when the pistol is held with the barrel grip of the pistol, a rapid assumption of both duellists as to when and how the century with shallow, pierced cup, century the typical good quality pistol pointing upwards. When in place the a good aiming position and a guarantied Typical rapier of Northern European duel might end and unless an apology was recurved quillons, knuckle bow and a would have probably been fitted with a detent prevents the trigger activating the discharge of the shot on pressing the dating from the second quarter of the offered the duel had to proceed. globose pommel. The diamond section tubular barrel, mounted on a walnut stock mechanism rendering the pistol safe but 17th century. It has a shallow disc guard blade is just less than 37 inches long. trigger. Ever conscious of a growing with either brass or steel mounts, and the when lowered the detent disengages and demand gunmakers began developing a with straight quillons terminating in ovoid From the 16th century until the 1780s lock signed with the maker’s name. the weapon is ready to fire. It is a matter which usually had a long stiff blade with pistol specially designed for the duel and, finials. The grip is wire bound with a fluted most gentlemen carried a sword as part of conjecture as whether the detent ever any one of a variety of hilts, composed aware of the need for matched weapons ovoid pommel. The flattened diamond- of their costume. During the 16th century The most important feature of all flintlock jammed? of a series of bars, shells or cups which were soon manufacturing pairs of virtually section blade is just under 44 inched long. the most common sword was the rapier pistols was obviously the lock and 28 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 29 The duel The duel

Converted duelling pistols are far less the grip, they made changes to the shape had a plate set into the face of the breech favoured a simple central bore drilling but desirable for the collector and they fetch of the butt. It was straightened and end section with a recess into which the others argued that the bore should be lower prices, a fact that encourages some thickened and the pommel splayed so hook fitted. In place of the pin which had slightly angled and some measurements enthusiasts to re-convert percussion that the whole hand was engaged with secured the lug the newer models had a taken on pistols made by Rigby and back to flint. Some conversions are so the butt, again strengthening the grip... slim plate which served the same purpose Wogdon suggest that some pistols were good that it is very difficult to detect the On some later pistols an earlier feature but was easier to remove when releasing so bored; once again what benefit, if any, changes. Close examination of the lock was reintroduced and the broad flat base the barrel. Most early duellers are full was gained is unknown. 3 plate, front and back may expose traces of the butt was fitted with a pommel stocked with the wood extending, almost of the changes but this involves removing plate. To improve the grip by giving it a to the muzzle but there was a growing From the later part of the 18th century locks and not all dealers are so obliging. little extra support, the top of the butt fashion, particularly in the early 19th there was a growing fashion for makers was extended back in a spur shape which century’ to have only half stocks. to supply pistols in wooden boxes. The Walnut was the most popular wood sat on the web between first finger and advent of duelling pistols led to the for the stock as it was readily available, thumb. This style of butt commonly has Another feature over which the customer production of quality oak or mahogany durable and grown in a range of differing the main part chequered. might well have had some input was the cases. The inside of the lid was often colours. The early style duelling pistols diameter of the ball to be fired. This size covered with a trade card or label listing conformed to a basic pattern but were, There was yet one more optional extra was defined by the bore –the internal the maker’s skills and products. The main in general, plain lacking decoration. The fitting introduced to improve the grip; a diameter of the barrel. In general pistol body was usually lined with green baize Cased pair of percussion duellers by F. Barnes & 0Co. of London, circa 1840. The butt was gently curved and either plain or small curved projection set at the rear of bores varied between ten and forty which and the space divided by wooden fences mahogany case is particularly well fitted with accessories including a wad cutter punch, perhaps with a little chequering to provide the trigger guard and positioned so that represents a variation of, very roughly, half creating appropriate spaces to hold sundry turnscrews, rods and a fluted powder flask. The pistols are half stocked with a kind a less smooth surface to encourage a firm the first finger of the shooting hand could to three quarters of an inch. The size of sundry accessories. The number and of transitional butts, retaining the earlier curve but thickened and with a splayed base with grasp. A common variant style was the curve round it. These extra features first the ball would affect the ballistics of the type of accessory varied but most carried pommel cap... The furniture is of blued steel. The locks have sliding bolt safety catches, slab-sided butt with plain flat panels. The appear on London-made pistols and were shot although at the range at which most a powder flask, a mould and some detents, some engraved decoration and the triggers are sat. The 40 bore octagonal barrels stock was usually plain but some pistols taken up later by the provincial makers. duels were fought this difference would cleaning rods. Some flasks were designed are fitted with sights and secured to the stock by a sliding bar. were embellished with inlaid wire and probably be only marginal. The larger ball to hold, in addition to the powder, a few There was a further improvement to some there was a solid hammer with a recessed some of the fittings, trigger guard, ramrod Barrel design changed and the old tubular would be less likely to penetrate deeply balls, (a two-way flask), whilst others had locks and that was the hair or set trigger. nose; internally the lock was unchanged. pipes and very occasionally a butt cap barrel was replaced by a thicker octagonal but might well inflict a larger wound and receptacles holding balls and a spare flint This internal system could be adjusted to The barrel had the plug section with the were of silver although brass or steel were one. Many barrels had sights fitted on the carry in more debris such as shreds of – (three-way). regulate the amount of pressure on the touch hole drilled out and a drum and more usual. top flat but there were some who argued clothing and dirt so increasing the chances trigger needed to activate the action. It nipple was fitted into the space. The that they were a distraction and if of of infection. The size of the ball would As with most fashions a certain hierarchy of was set by a small screw positioned by the plug had the nipple set vertically and so Duelling pistols were expensive and no silver might even flash in the sunlight so also decide the amount of for makers of duelling pistols developed with trigger or by a second wire-like trigger. positioned as to be struck by the nose of doubt the customer probably had some confusing the shooter. It was important each shot but again the effect of differing one or two being regard by the ‘quality’ The setting of the trigger was important the hammer. A copper input as to details of the pistol. Since the that the barrel sat securely in the wooden powder charges would probably be small. as the best. London makers naturally lead as too light a touch might well lead to a was placed on the nipple and was struck size of individual’s hands varied the butt stock and the earlier pistols use the lug One job for the seconds was to supervise the field and most developments first premature shot. It is debateable as to by the falling hammer and detonated the shape may well have been tailored to sit and pin system. The bottom of the barrel loading the pistols prior to the duel but appear on London made pistols but the whether the possibility of accidental chemical compound in the cap. The flash more comfortably in his grip. The degree had one or two down pointing small lugs most of the Codes of Honour have no provincial makers soon followed on. Soon discharge outweighed the slight gain in passed directly to the breech through of curve to the butt may therefore have which fitted into appropriate recesses mention of size or quality of powder to a group became the top recommend efficiency. nipple and drums and so fired the shot. been adjusted slightly by top quality cut into the stock and a pin was passed be used. suppliers with two or three seen as the This system was much cheaper than having makers and the careful examination of through stock and lug. In the 19th century very best; Manton, Mortimer, and, above A well-made lock incorporating these a new barrel made with an integral nipple. different duelling pistols seems to confirm a different system was more common and There was some discussion amongst the all, Wogdon. Certainly their products are improvements represents probably this2. the breech end of the barrel had a small, shooting fraternity of the period about of top quality but some of the provincial the peak of perfection for the flintlock From the 1820s fewer flintlock pistols sturdy hook-like projection. The stock how the barrels should be bored, Most makers could match them but whether and with the use of good quality flints were made but by no means all shooters The majority of early pistol butts have probably guaranteed a shot. The proud were won over to the percussion cap and this simple shape but gunmakers were owner of a set of flintlock duelling flintlock pistols dating from the 1840s and innovators and, with the idea of improving pistols by a top maker probably counted later are not uncommon. himself set for life but in the 1820s the situation changed with the advent of the percussion cap. The new system offered a better performance than the flintlock and most dedicated shooters were then faced with a difficult choice. Continue with the old-fashioned system or change to percussion with a heavy price to pay for new pistols?

Fortunately the gunmakers came up with a cheaper system to convert the original pistol from flint to percussion. The lock Originally made by the doyen of makers Robert Wogdon these pistols have been was detached and the pan, frizzen converted to percussion after about 1820. The half stocks are of typical form with flat- and cock removed and the plate was sided chequering. The furniture is of silver, hall marked for 1779; the 28 bore barrels are Pistol by Galton of Birmingham with octagonal 20 bore barrel. It dates from about 1810 and exhibits most features found on the earlier smoothed, some minor alterations made signed in gold and have silver foresights... The mahogany case has an inset carrying handle examples. and any holes filled. In place of the cock and contains a leather powder flask.

30 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 31 The duel Jsl productIoNs preseNts

hasty departure because the law made no exception and this was murder and both shooter and seconds were considered to be liable for trial. Some duellist fled to Europe but some were tried and found guilty but a death penalty was rare and a manslaughter verdict was returned with a battle fine and a short prison sentence.

By the beginning of the 19th century British public support for the duel was waning and although opposition increased there was still no specific law prohibiting Typical fully developed duelling pistol of about 1840 with latest type butt, spurred trigger them. The advent of Queen Victoria guard, 40 bore octagonal barrel with sights, signed lock and safety bolt catch and made by may have strengthened the opposition proms Lyell of London. but a big step leading to the virtual end there was any great difference in shooting agreed by the seconds, this was paced of duelling came in 1844 when army officers were forbidden by regulations pIcNIc coNcerts qualities is debateable. For the collector out, usually about ten or twelve steps. pistol bearing any of these names rate top The duellists now turned to face each from taking part. It was more of a threat than a veto for if they were involved then prices but there are others who produced other and adopted the shooting position urghley ouse uly lenheim alace uly atfield ouse uly fine pieces; Rigby, Parker, Brunn, Jover which was normally with the right side of there were penalties such as no pension B h - 5 J • B P - 12 J • h h - 19 J and Nock. The changes of detail are the body facing the opponent. The signal for the widow in the event of a fatality. highclere castle - 2 august • althorP Park - 9 august • ragley hall - 16 august useful pointers in dating examples but to fire might be verbal or visual such as It was not the complete end and one or fortunately some work books of the the dropping of a handkerchief and then two duels took place but virtually it was makers have survived and specific dates shots were exchanged, normally at once over. For the keen shooter target practice and details of the original purchasers can although there are recorded examples of took over and the duelling pistol became still be found. one shooter holding position and taking a target one, often with rifled barrels. a celeBration of a steady aim. In some rare instance one The author and the organisers of the London Before the duel could take place it was the combatant might fire his shot in the air as Arms Fair are indebted to Thomas Del Mar duty of the seconds to see if an apology a sign that the matter was resolved and for permission to use his photographs which classical music with... would be made and accepted and once honour satisfied. remain in his copyright. this formality had been observed the Bibliography deadly sequence began. If the code was Generally any wound signalled the end The best references for details of the makers followed strictly the seconds loaded the of the affair but if neither shooter scored see: fireworks pistols just prior to the duel and normal a hit it was up to all to agree whether Blackmore H.L. A Dictionary of London loading procedure was followed although honour was satisfied or another shot Gunmakers 1350-1840 London and Brown Nigel British Gunmakers Vols 1 and 2 there are hints that there were some should be fired. Two shots were usually Anon British Code of Duelling 1823 dubious variations. Once the pistol was considered sufficient but at least one The art of Duelling 1836 Atkinson, J Duelling Pistols London 1964 sPitfire loaded it was handed to the duellist and duel in 1796 is recorded when six shots some codes specified exactly how this were fired. In the event of a wound a Baldick, R The Duel London 1965 4 Douglas, W Duelling Days in the Army 1887 was to be done . surgeon was at hand since the seconds Hamiliton, J Duelling Handbook London 1829 were bound by their duties to ensure at Hopton, R Pistols at Dawn London 2007 The next step was to set the distance at least one was in attendance. In the event Landale, J Duels 2005 cannons which shots would be exchanged, again of a death the victorious duellist made a Neal, W.K & Back, D The Mantons Gunmakers and The Manton Supplement 1967 and 1978 British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards Cases and Equipment 1980 Wilkinson, F Death or Dishonour Cambridge cavalry 2012 PLUS! A History of 2 011 Wilson , J Code of Honour 1858

(Endnotes) 1 See Aylward. J The English Master of Arms Aerobatic Team London 1956 wIth charIty FlIght booKINgs 2 Some interesting work on this topic is being carried out by De Witt Bailey and John O’Sullivan see Death or Dishonour Follow us oN: Good quality flintlock pistol of 1760-1770 of the type which might well have been used 3 See Death or Dishonour in an early pistol duel. The e 18 bore barrel is of brass as are the mounts. It has a full stock 4 See Death or Dishonour with spurred butt cap with grotesque mask. It was named by William T Wilson who worked

in the area near the Tower of London known as the Minories, the name engraved on the RegisteRed ChaRity NumbeR: 206002 barrel. 32 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide www.battleproms.com tel:The London 01432 Antique Arms 355416 Fair Guide 33

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34 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 35 King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot

“Taken from King Joseph Buonaparte’s the ground, and the fact that many of the 1st Hussars, King’s German Legion baggage at the the more experienced troops had been and the 14th Light Dragoons. As they King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot Battle of Vittoria on the 21st June 1813 recalled to France to repair the broken pressed forward in the face of the French by Capt. Anderson remnants of the Grande Armee after the retreat they captured the siege train along by Paul Wilcock 14th Light Dragoons.” crippling Russian campaign. Wellington with King Joseph’s baggage train. Losses had succeeded in advancing from the numbered around 5,000 on either side While the journey the pot took from Portuguese border into North Eastern with almost 3,000 French also being It would not be unreasonable when perusing the articles in a guide to the London International Arms that day in 1813 to the present remains Spain with an army comprising not only captured, however the French losses shrouded in mystery, the circumstances of British troops but also significant numbers should have been much greater had they Fair to expect that they would feature a range of topics relating to the wide selection of antique its ‘liberation’ do not. of Portuguese and Spanish, both regular been effectively pursued as Wellington and irregular forces. The advance was so intended. As it was, the troops fell to weaponry arrayed upon the dealers’ tables. Outstanding cased flintlock pistols; exquisitely decorated King Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte was the effective that, with his customary lack of looting allowing the French to escape. swords; fine uniforms and pieces of armour; orders and decorations from campaigns fought in elder brother of the Emperor Napoleon. insight, Joseph withdrew with his Chief of Wellington in a letter to Lord Bathurst was Having helped Napoleon gain power Staff and Governor of Madrid2, Marshal appalled by their behaviour centuries past…but not a chocolate pot. during the later years of the French Jourdan in an effort to consolidate his Revolution he continued to support him forces. On reaching the town of Vittoria, “We started with the army in the highest after the establishment of the Empire, Joseph had united three of his now order, and up to the day of battle nothing being made King of Naples in 1806. Two depleted armies3, the Army of the South, could get on better; but that event has, years later Joseph reluctantly accepted the Army of the Centre and the Army as usual totally annihilated all order and discipline.”4

Clearly the sight of the whole royal baggage train proved too tempting an opportunity for the victorious soldiers and, it should be remembered, the local population. The scene that met them is vividly described by Colonel Sir Augustus Frazer:

“Yelling and cheering the men fell on the van. Smashing open its doors with their butts they dropped back in astonishment for the interior was packed to the brim with church plate, bags of coin, caskets and treasure chests”5

Interestingly however, one of the items looted by a Corporal Fox of the 18th Hussars was Marshal Jourdan’s baton. Charming as it may be, it is an unlikely In a small alcove beside the fireplace In December 1980 Major General Donald Presumably much to Fox’s chagrin, it was exhibit in a room otherwise filled with in the Officer’s Mess at the Drill Hall in Isles, then the Colonel of the Duke of eventually recovered from him, (including antique arms and armour. In any other Huddersfield, once the Battalion HQ of Wellington’s Regiment received a letter the solid gold finials!) by his commanding year that might be the case, but 2013 is the 5th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, from Major General Palmer, Colonel officer and sent by Wellington to the the 200th anniversary of the Battle of stands a small silver jug. It measures only Designate of the King’s Royal Hussars. the title of King of Spain1 and arrived in of Portugal and awaited reinforcements Prince Regent who responded by sending Vittoria, not only a significant event in the eight inches in height, four and a half Essentially the text of the letter indicated Madrid at the outbreak of the revolution from General Clausel and the Army of a Field Marshal’s baton to Wellington, in Peninsula campaign but also in the history inches at its widest point and has a lid that he was aware of the chocolate pot in 1808. His tenure was little short of a the North. confirmation of his new appointment with of this small chocolate pot. surmounted by what was once a gilded and, while making no claim upon it by disaster: progressively losing any support the message: crown. To one side is an ebony handle right, wondered how the trustees would he might have previously enjoyed from the Wellington launched his attack with troops While the great majority of the historic to allow for hot liquid to be poured. It feel about returning it to his regiment. Spanish nobility; his reign was effectively commanded by Lieutenant General artefacts of the Yorkshire Regiment and dates from the beginning of the 19th Major General Isles reply is not recorded, ended in all but name by the defeat at Rowland Hill who in a bold and cunning “Your glorious conduct is far above its antecedents are, as with most other century and while simple in design has but no doubt with his customary Vittoria. This finally resulted in him being manoeuvre, advanced through the La human praise and far above my reward. regiments, housed in the respective an understated elegance. The style politeness he declined, evidenced indeed forced to flee his domains and return to Puebla defile. Lieutenant General Sir I know of no language the world affords regimental museums, there still remain and design lead to its identification as a by subsequent correspondence, and the France heralding the final recapture of Thomas Picton’s forces then successfully worthy to express it.”6 some unusual and historically fascinating chocolate pot. While these are by no fact that the chocolate pot remains in its Spain by Wellington. crossed the Zadorra River despite being items occupying the variety of unit bases means rare, they would be unlikely to place by the fireplace today. However, under heavy artillery fire from the It appears however that Wellington’s still attached to the Regiment. While form part of the accoutrements of most the reason for the enquiry can be elicited The Battle of Vittoria can be regarded as opposite bank. As the French defensive views on the behaviour of the troops not receiving the same exposure as the local households in Huddersfield in the from the inscription on the artefact itself, the turning point in the Peninsula War lines began to waiver Major General were not entirely shared by the whole of museum exhibits, they are often equally early 1800’s. Yet the chocolate pot has for while there is no doubt as to its and arguably one of Wellington’s greatest Victor von Alten led his cavalry brigade his staff. Brigadier D’Urban, commander interesting and have similarly unusual been a feature of the Officer’s Mess in current owners, the inscription provides victories. By 1813 Napoleon’s military in a fearless charge into the centre of of the Portuguese cavalry writes in his stories behind them. the Drill Hall since beyond living memory. a fascinating insight into its history. The ambitions in the Peninsula were in a state Vittoria and the French forces collapsed journal entry for the day: Its journey to that comfortable alcove inscription reads: of near collapse. This was principally due and retreated in disarray leaving all behind however is somewhat more elusive. to a combination of poor leadership on them. Von Alten’s brigade consisted of

36 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 37 King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot “A magnificent classic on Sam Colt and Colt firearms.” –Norm Flayderman

“The French completely defeated and of regiment is confirmed in the London Officer’s Mess in Huddersfield Drill Hall. dispersed leaving to the victors 150 Gazette where he is described being None of the antecedent regiments who pieces of cannon, immense quantities promoted Captain and as taking command were associated with the Drill Hall fought of , his (King Joseph) military of a Troop12. His final appearance is in at Vittoria. The most likely explanation, of chest, equipage etc. etc. The troops the 1818 lists but not thereafter. During his which there are many other examples, is behaved splendidly.”7 time in the Peninsula there is no doubt that the chocolate pot was retained by that Anderson saw significant action and Captain Anderson’s family and one of Despite Wellington’s vehement he is recorded on the Military General his successors served with the Duke of instructions to the contrary the Service medal roll with bars for Talavera; Wellington’s Regiment and donated the opportunity for significant financial reward Salamanca; Vittoria; Nive; Orthes and item as a gift to the Mess. Regardless of The First of Five Titles from The Art of the Gun Series 13 meant that the looting continued and it is Toulouse . There are no further records all this, it remains an important reminder Coauthored by Robert M. Lee and R.L. Wilson still estimated that goods and money to of his activities and he does not appear of past victories and of the rich heritage the value of around one million pounds on the Waterloo Medal Roll since the that is still retained in local regimental Two Volume Set, 600 11x14” Landscape Pages in the currency of the day was taken by 14th Light Dragoons were not present at outposts. Available in Classic and Deluxe Editions looters8. The 14th Light Dragoons were Waterloo. at the forefront and as a result of one Paul Wilcock famous acquisition they became known At some point in its history the pot 21st March 2013 Deluxe Edition as the ‘Emperor’s Chambermaids’. The has been expertly engraved with the $ highly prized item was another of King attribution above, probably at the same Acknowledgements 2900 per set Joseph’s valuable treasures, his silver time it was plated with a higher grade of I would like to express my grateful thanks to chamber pot which still resides in the silver than the original pot14. It also carries Capt. Ian Fillan (Retd), Col. Tim Isles (Retd) Signed & Numbered King’s Royal Hussars Officer’s mess to this the mark ‘BB’ which appears to predate and Major Stephen Armitage (Retd) for their day. It is still frequently utilised, but now the engraving describing how the pot assistance in researching this article, and to my Limited to 500 Sets as a punch bowl rather than its original came into Anderson’s possession. On fellow Trustees of Huddersfield Drill Hall for intended function! the base are two hallmarks indicating permission to publish. Hand-bound its manufacture in Portugal15 so it would in Premium The sacking of the baggage train is most appear that this was a ‘local’ purchase King Joseph’s Chocolate Pot is exhibited at Tuscan Leather likely the point when Captain Anderson for Joseph rather than one he had the Fair by kind permission of the Trustees of ‘liberated’ the chocolate pot since many brought from Naples or France. There Huddersfield Drill Hall. Images are copyright Hand-crafted contemporary accounts detail the spoils is however another design above the Trustees of Huddersfield Drill Hall. clamshell case taken from Joseph’s baggage train9. There inscription which depicts a tree behind a were serious consequences for officers cross. This holds no significance in any of who were found looting as Wellington the heraldic emblems of the Bonaparte had consistently made clear, and Francis family: however it may be a corruption Anderson was a career soldier with of the clan emblem for Anderson as both much to lose. He had been initially the tree and the cross of Saint Andrew DVD & Blu-ray commissioned in 1797 as a Cornet in feature prominently. The positioning of disc sets included the 23rd Light Dragoons. He was then this emblem is above and exactly central in both editions! promoted Lieutenant ‘without purchase’ to the inscription. in 179810. He appears in the 1812 Army List as Captain in the 14th Light Dragoons from Of course there in now no record of how August 181011 . His promotion and change the chocolate pot came to rest in the Classic Edition 1. Almanach Imperiale MDCCCXII p.93 Joseph 6. Haythornthwaite P., The Armies of 12. London Gazette 31st July 1810 number $ is listed as being appointed from 6th June 1808 Wellington, London (1994) p.251 16392 375 per set and noted as ‘Roi des Espagnes et des Indes, Prince Francais, Grande-Elector de l’Empire’ 7. D’Urban B. The Peninsula Journal 1808-1817, 13. Military General Service Medal Roll Beautiful Brillianta Cloth Covers London (1988) p.307 courtesy of Dix, Noonan & Webb, London French Fold Double-Sided Dust Jackets 2. Almanach Imperiale MDCCCXII p.278 Jourdan’s main title after being a Marshal of 8. This is the figure quoted by Wellington 14. The surface of the pot is 92.55 sterling Limited to 5,000 Sets France is listed as being Governor of Madrid earlier in his letter to Lord Bathurst silver whereas tests indicate the original silver is of a lower standard 3. In practice the armies of the Centre and 9. The event is well documented both because Portugal consisted of only four Divisions. in Wellington’s eyes it was a further example of 15.I am grateful to Emma Paragreen from the break down in discipline, but also for the huge Sheffield Assay Office for her assistance in 4. Gurwood J. (ed.) Letter to Lord Bathurst financial gains made by individual soldiers. identifying the markings Also available at Yellowstone Press, in Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of The Art of The Gun Miniature Book Series & China Safari Wellington volume X p.473, London 1834-38 10. London Gazette 6th March 1798 number 14096 5. Esdaile C., The Peninsula War – A New History, London (2002) p.428 11. Hart’s Army List 1812 www.YellowstonePress.com/LA Call Toll Free: 866-520-2001 38 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 39 ©2013 ROBERT M. LEE TRUST • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • LAF SPRING Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers

cited Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection and Colt Factory Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Engravers of the Nineteenth Century by H.G. Houze (2012). Pete Holder’s article in The 75th London Antique Arms Fair guide Percussion Revolvers (Autumn 2005), stands among the most important of breakthrough publications in by R.L. Wilson a firearms-related periodical. The Revised Article, Updating Note: The original of this article was a feature in the Guide for the September 26- the 1969 Arms Fair Guide “Gold Inlaid Colt Revolvers” 27, 1969 London Arms Fair. The author updated that piece, based on research Is As Follows: Of all the American gun makers, Colonel discoveries made over the past 44 years. Ed. Gunmaker’s pull from frame of an as-yet undiscovered Colt Dragoon Model revolver. was the acknowledged Discovered by the author in the attic of Robert Young, grandson of Gustave Young, in master-salesman and entrepreneur - and Springfield, Massachusetts, c. 1967. Print believed pulled by Gustave Young, and a key the leading manufacturer, innovator and The honour of an internship at The Royal source in attributions of certain deluxe arms to that artisan. Courtesy The Metropolitan inventor - of his time. His fast-paced Armouries, H.M. Tower of London in Museum of Art, Department of Arms and Armor. Gift of John Gangel, 2012. success in the years 1847-48, when the 1960, led the writer to the UK for the first Colt-Hartford operations began, propelled subtitled A Loan Exhibition of Presentation semester of his senior year at Carleton him into national and indeed international Percussion Colt Firearms, was produced The revisions made in the article which College, flying the 4,000 miles from renown. Keenly aware of potential as a Museum Assistant (and later Curator follows could not have been done without Northfield, Minnesota. Arrangements for firearm markets the world over, Colt eyed of Firearms) at the Wadsworth Atheneum some 44 years of opportunities, among that internship had been made through European sales and profits with a special Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. these communications with collectors, Sir James Mann, Master of The Armouries, interest and enthusiasm. dealers, auction houses, independent HM Tower of London, who had been The extraordinary opportunities of the scholars in various fields, studies of contacted on my behalf by Hermann As a young seaman (c. 1831-32), Colt Tower Armouries internship, and “Samuel the extraordinary career of engraver Warner Williams, Jr. (Director, Corcoran had visited London, touring the Tower Colt Presents” were instrumental in (principally in banknotes) W.L. Ormsby, Gallery of Art, Washington DC), Stephen Armouries, and delighting in the products allowing a career in which arms and armour and the vehicle of computer “search V. Grancsay (Curator of Arms and Armor, of British gun makers. A genuine love became a full-time passion and profession. engines.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New for Britain and things British was one of York), Colonel Frederick P. Todd (Director, several factors influencing the Connecticut Relevant to those experiences is a detailed Scholars, students, collectors and a variety West Point Museum) and officials from Colonel’s decision to not only aggressively review of the evolution of the study of of experts who have contributed to this Carleton College. The applicable student pursue sales in Britain and the continental engraved Colt firearms, appearing in “The explosion of knowledge are too numerous exchange program was through the countries, but in fact to open a factory on Engravers” section of the newly published to note here, but the two most up-to- Experiment in International Living, Putney, the Thames (near Vauxhall Bridge), where Magnificent Colts Selections from the date references in print are the above- Vermont. Robert M. Lee Collection, co-authored with Robert M. Lee. That review begins in That first trip to London led to a long Magnificent Colts, and then is continued in time association with the UK, including detail within the website, yellowstonepress. not only in antique arms, but the works com. of modern makers like Purdey, Holland & Holland, Peter Nelson and Boss & Co., The magic of computer technology plus a comprehensive fascination with has allowed significant advancements Britain, particularly the captivating genre of throughout scholarship, and that is no less Country Houses. true in the study of engraved firearms. Since Colts are the most examined of The experience at the Royal Armouries, all engraved American weaponry, the particularly under the guidance of William results of the “search engines” and related Reid, Deputy Keeper, at a time when progress have contributed to identifying Sir James Mann was Master, and Norris specifically numerous engravers, and to Kennard was Deputy Master, greatly resolve many unanswered questions. broadened the writer’s interests in arms and armour. A list of the writer’s earlier works with relevance to Colt specifically is at the end Immediately following the Royal Armouries of the present article. But of all those Rare daguerreotype of Colonel Samuel Colt, c. 1851-52. Courtesy Albert Brichaux internship, the writer returned to the U.S. Model 1851 Navy revolver, Serial No 14332/., attributed to W.L. Ormsby, and the earliest titles (not to mention several articles in Collection. Reproduced in Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee and was given a one-year leave of absence known gold inlaid percussion Colt revolver known to the author. George F. Gamble periodicals), the most up-to-date is the Collection, © Robert M. Lee Trust. Featured in Chapter III, revealing that the portrait of from Carleton College, in order to work Collection, donated to the Autry National Center of the American West. Featured in A 600-page, two volume Magnificent Colts, Samuel Colt on the Navy pistol presented by the Colonel to E.N. Dickerson (Serial No. full time on the loan exhibition, “Samuel Life’s Tapestry of a Collector The George F. Gamble Collection, coauthored by George F. as exhibited at the 2013 Arms Fair, and 3769) was based on this photograph. Colt Presents.” The accompanying book, Gamble and R.L. Wilson (2013). advertised in the present Arms Fair Guide. 40 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 41 Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers

Gustave Young’s Years with Smith & Wesson - Rarity of Gold Inlaid Revolvers for That Firm

Collectors of Smith & Wesson arms will note an occasional magnificent pistol by that maker engraved or gold inlaid in a similar style. After the Colt fire of 1864, Gustave Young is known to have accepted commissions from S & W (whose factory in Springfield, Massachusetts, was but 25 miles from Hartford), and in fact the year 1869 saw Young and his family move from Hartford to Springfield where he became chief engraver for the Smith & Wesson firm. Among the fancy pistols done by Young for his new employer were gold inlaid presentations for American President U.S. Grant and for the Russian Grand Duke Alexis, plus miscellaneous display pistols for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876 and the Columbian Exposition of 1893, in Chicago, Illinois. Model 1849 Pocket revolver, rosewood cased set. Serial No. 63303. Engraving attributed to W.L. Ormsby. George F. Gamble Collection, donated to the Autry National Center of the American West. Featured in A Life’s Tapestry of a Collector The George F. Gamble Of the limited number of gold inlaid Collection, coauthored by George F. Gamble and R.L. Wilson (2013). revolvers by Young for Smith & Wesson, a Model 1 ½ New Issue pistol from the Dragoon, Navy, and Pocket model pistols Gustave Young – Master any other 19th century engraver working factory to President U.S. Grant appears in were manufactured under Colt’s patents Engraver, Inlayer and Artisan in America. Three gold inlaids from The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, personally presented to A Life’s Tapestry of a Collector The George from 1853 through 1857. For decades Czar Nicholas I by Colonel Colt. The Dragoon Serial No. 12407, the Model 1851 Navy F. Gamble Collection. Bearing Serial No. thereafter, Colt’s maintained an Agency in Important documents which were crucial In 1853 the potential of a promising future Serial No. 20131/.; and the Pocket Model 1849 No. 63305. This photograph made for 41993, this richly gold-monogrammed London, among the many London-related in identifying Young and his shop are three masterpiece is in a silver-mounted far from Germany inspired a youthful the author in 1979, while these arms were on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, subjects expertly covered in Joseph G. invoices from him as engraving contractor rosewood and ebony case, and is fitted but brilliantly talented engraver named and at the Raymond Baldwin Museum of Connecticut History, Hartford. Reproduced in Rosa’s Colonel Colt London (1976). to Colt’s. These are pictured in the author’s with elaborately relief-carved mother-of- Gustave Young (1827-1895) to emigrate to Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection, in Chapter I, “The Gold The Colt Engraving Book. The earliest is pearl grips. In 2012, the Grant presentation the New World. An association between Standard.” © Robert M. Lee Trust. Two of Samuel Colt’s prime promotional dated April 8, 1854; next is June 3, 1854; was donated by collector George F. Young and his future employer may well Gamble, along with his extensive holdings techniques – exploited by him on as grand and the third is September 23, 1854 Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department He has been engaged in Colonel have come from meeting Samuel Colt of arms of the American West, to the Autry a scale in Europe as in America – were (pages 92-93, and 96). The total numbers of Arms and Armor, for that institution’s Colt’s Establishment for the past at the Great Exhibition of 1851; records National Center of the American West, displays at fairs and expositions and special of Model 1849 Pocket and Model 1851 extensive decorative archives. twelve years in the highest walks of reveal that Young was among the millions Los Angeles, California. The collection is presentations to monarchy, military brass, Navy pistols listed in those invoices are 149 the art; and abundant proofs of his of attendees. scheduled to be opened for public viewing and selected politicians. At the Great of the former and 72 of the latter. To date More recently discovered material offers Skill are extant in this country, and in in July 2013, in the George Gamble Gallery Exhibition of All Nations (1851) in London, several pistols listed on these invoices have new data on the gifted craftsman. After the Europe, in the splendid presents that Young came to Hartford, Connecticut of Western Firearms. Colt’s stand was among the most popular of been identified, thus assisting in identifying soon after his arrival in New York City celebrated Colt factory fire of February 4, have been made to Crowned Heads, the American exhibits. Some other widely the “Gustave Young style.” 1864, Young drafted in his own hand an and illustrious personages in different (June 4, 1853), and joined the Colt Acknowledged by S & W Historian Roy G. heralded showings of Colt arms were the advertisement for publication in Hartford countries. Specimens of his work firearms company. In Gustave Young, Jinks as “the finest example of engraving Industrial Exhibition and Exhibition of A unique ink impression pulled from the newspapers. The original manuscript have been exhibited at the different Samuel Colt hired the services of a man completed in the ,” Serial the Industry of All Nations at the Crystal frame of an elaborately embellished Colt reveals something of the man, his World’s Fairs and elicited the highest trained in engraving and design - and fully No. 27940 New Model No. 3 was richly Palace in New York (1853), the Universal Dragoon (of c. 1854) was discovered by assignments under Colonel Colt and his praise. In soliciting public patronage, experienced through approximately fifteen engraved and gold inlaid in a quite different Exhibition in Paris (1855) and the Universal the writer c. 1967, in the papers of the general abilities. the subscriber is confident, that he years of professional pursuit of his craft and manner than the General Grant pistol. Society for the Encouragement of Arts Young family. This perfect pull reveals the cannot be outdone, if equalled, in art. For the creation of lavish presentation Commissioned by S & W for the Columbian and Industry (London, 1856). Always rich German-American scrolls, which he Gold & Silver, Steel and General his line of art; and he is willing to and display arms, Gustave Young was the Exposition of 1893, Young regarded there were engraved specimens featured used in engraving several key arms, such Engraver hazard his professional reputation perfect candidate, and the perceptive this revolver as his “masterpiece.” For in Colt’s displays. A great many notes in as presentations by Colt to E.K. Root The advertiser having been deprived on any work with which he may be Colt was destined to make full use of the decades the pistol remained in the Smith contemporary reports commented on and to U.S. Secretary of War, John B. of employment by the late destructive entrusted. He can be found at his special abilities of his new engraver. & Wesson Factory Museum Collection. these elaborate firearms in “assorted sizes, Floyd. In addition the Dragoon pull shows fire at Colt’s Armory, respectfully Office No. Main Street, up Stairs. Eventually it was sold to private collector engraved and highly finished...” Generally, imaginative animal motifs, which along with offers his services to the public, as Few engravers in America, before or William Foxley. Presently this elegant and the finest of deluxe Colt firearms were the American patriotic scenes, were specialties an Engraver on Gold and Silver plate, since, could match Young in his complete historic is in the Robert M. Lee specific commissions of Colonel Colt as of this master craftsman. In 2012 this rings, and every kind of ornamental mastery of the Germanic style. Leaving a Collection, and is featured on pages 40-41 special display pieces or as special orders historic gunmaker’s pull was presented by jewelery, Steel and all other metals. rather substantial legacy of fine arms, more of Magnificent Colts. for presentations. John Gangel of Orange, California, to The has been published about this artisan than

42 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 43 Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers

No. 27940 is among the very few signed Gustave Young, the well-known Other 19th Century Engravers firearms by Young – something of a engraver . . . died at his home on Who Were Rivals of Young: contrast to the well-known L.D. Nimschke Broad Street yesterday from tumour Discoveries Primarily by and certain members of the Ulrich family, on the brain. Computer-Generated who left numerous examples of signed Mr Young was trained abroad and did “Search Engines” Mining work, particularly on Winchester . some superior work, engraving the Data on Craftsmen Previously most costly pistols for the Colts while Unknown or Fully Recognized Gold Inlaid Winchester Rifle at Hartford and for Smith & Wesson by Gustave Young, for the in this city. In 1893 he finished the Since publication of the writer’s The Colt pistols sent to the Chicago fair by Centennial Exhibition of Engraving Book (2000-2001), research Mr Wesson, including a revolver primarily computer-generated has 1876, Philadelphia [No. 27940 noted above] that cost discovered a considerable amount of $1,500, probably the most expensive relevant data – not only about Young, Among the most important of fresh ever made. While in Hartford he but of other talented engravers – many engraving discoveries is the Winchester engraved a revolver sent to Gen. of them having also learned their trade in Model 1873 showpiece featured by the Grant, which had military emblems Germany. company at the Centennial Exhibition of in gold on the handle. Mr. Young was 1876 and pictured in Magnificent Colts born in Thuringia, Ger., May 6, 1827, These discoveries have identified not (page 535). Bearing serial no. 16139, this and worked for a time in Berlin for only additional gold inlaid Colt percussion exceptional sporting rifle is identified the imperial engraver. While following firearms, but also recognized important in the factory records as “engraved by his trade in Warsaw he furnished two pieces wherein the attribution should Young.” None of the factory gold inlaid fowling pieces for the czar of Russia. be to Young’s contemporaries – most of percussion Colts studied by the author has He moved to this country 43 years whom were also masters of Germanic- been identified having a Young signature, ago, and after working a short time American styles. “The Sultan of Turkey Dragoon,” Serial No. 12406, photographed while in the George and Butonne Repaire Collection. Later presented by although one pistol (serial no. 20133/.) in New York, settled in Hartford . . the Repaires to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and presently on display in the Robert M. Lee Gallery of American Arms. The may have a hidden signature on the side of . . He was employed at Colt’s for A particularly talented engraver who first revolver was discovered in a custom made case with accessories. the barrel, composed of scroll engravings many years, and in 1869 came to appeared in the writer’s The Book of Colt and gold inlays. As noted in Magnificent Colts, Herman This volume notes: “Engraver and IV “Gold Inlaid Percussion Colt Revolvers Springfield as engraver for Smith Engraving (1974) was Herman Bodenstein Bodenstein: sculptor. Marr was apprenticed to an (c. 1852-1868).” Those marked with & Wesson . . . . Mr. Young leaves a (1829-1865). Coming to the United States engraver in Zella, where he learned an asterisk are pictured in Magnificent Obituary Tribute to Gustave widow and three sons, Oscar and from Germany in 1849, Bodenstein began became the Colt company’s engraving to do decorative engraving on guns. Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Young ex-Councilman Eugene Young (both his employment at Colt’s c. 1852. The contractor in late 1858 or early 1859 He came to the U.S. in 1852 and Collection. The designation /. indicates that master engravers in their own right), author located Bodenstein in a Colt factory The obituary of Gustave Young, published when Gustave Young . . . returned found work at the Colt pistol factory the dot accompanied major serial numbers, and Alfred O. Young a machinist . . . . notebook dated February 15, 1860, listing in the Springfield Daily Republican, January to Germany. He also took over in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1855 and was a factory mark that the raw in-the- contractors and their employees. The 3, 1895, adds further details on the Young’s cottage at 40 Van Block he moved to Milwaukee, where he white firearm required special polish and name was also known through researching background of this remarkably talented Street immediately adjacent to the established an engraving business treatment for embellishments. city directories, where he appears from craftsman: at the same time . . . . As in partnership with a Danish-born as early as 1853 to the year of his death. engraving contractor from 1858/59 to engraver, Peter L. Mossin . . . . Note Third Model Dragoons (Nos. 12406 and mid-1865, Bodenstein was responsible that Marr married into the Bodenstein 12407*, and 15821/.) for some of the Colt company’s more family taking Herman’s daughter Third Model London Dragoon (No. 7) famous commissions dating from that Bertha as his wife. Model 1849 Pocket pistols (Nos. 63271, period. The most important of these 63303/., 63305*, 63306, 67498/.*, were the gold-inlaid New Model Listing of Known Colt 71746/., and 84624/.). Holster Pistols [1860 Army] presented Percussion Revolvers, Gold Model 1851 Navy pistols (Nos. 14332/., by President Abraham Lincoln to the Inlaid 20131/.*, 20133/.*, 23477/.*, 28470, Kings of Denmark and Sweden, as and 38843/.) well as the pair of New Model Navy Colt’s commissions of key gold inlaid firearms Model 1860 Army pistols (Nos. Pistols [1861] given to Lewis Lippold are shared not only with Gustave Young, but 162977/E and 162978/E; latter yet to in 1864, all of which have previously principally with Herman Bodenstein, and be discovered, but known through Colt been attributed to Gustave Young... possibly John Marr. Among these firearms shipping ledgers) are the following gold inlaid percussion Yet another engraver of talent in the Colt revolvers. Two other engravers now believed The following engraved and gold inlaid atelier, was also German-born: John Marr. to have gold inlaid Colts of the percussion pistols have been reattributed to Herman Quoting from Magnificent Colts: period are Herman L. Ulrich, John R. Evans Bodenstein, having formerly been and W.L. Ormsby. Many of these arms attributed to Gustave Young): Born in Benshausen, near Gera, were embellished with gold and engraving, Germany, on November 6, 1831 (d. and richly stocked and cased for displays Model 1860 Army pistols, with silver- Three gold inlaids from the Colt Collection of Firearms, Raymond Baldwin Museum of Connecticut History, Connecticut State Library, May 12, 1921, Milwaukee, Wisconsin). primarily in Europe, with some specimens mounted relief carved and inlaid grips: Hartford. These arms employed as factory samples for decades, including as recently as in the 1960s, lent back to the Colt company for A brief biography of Marr appears in also exhibited in the United States. For Frederick VII from President Lincoln an occasional National Rifle Association of America exhibition. Dragoon Serial No. 15821/., the Navy No. 38843/., and the Pocket Model Peter C. Merrill, German Artists in (Nos. 31904 and 30905) 1849 No. 71746/. From the presentation by the Pratt & Whitney Foundation of the Colt Collection of Firearms to the State of Connecticut, America: A Biographical Dictionary Most of the following are pictured in The For Charles XV from President Lincoln 1957. (Scarecrow Press, Lanham MD, 1997). Colt Engraving Book, Volume I, in Chapter (Nos. 31906 and 31907)

44 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 45 Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers

*Model 1861 Navy pistols, presentations made by the pitchman and gun maker Istanbul c. 1967 by a British collector, Robin from E.K. Root to Lewis Lippold: were to England, and to Russia and other Braid-Taylor. Later the author learned of the Serial Nos. 17239 and 17240 Continental sites. The Crimean War (1854- revolver through American collector William Model 1862 Police pistol, presentation 56) pitted Great Britain, France and Turkey M. Locke, as well as through Mrs. Arlene from the Colt factory to James T. Ames, against Russia; but it was Samuel Colt’s G. Maver, then the Curator of the Colt grip design by J.Q.A. Ward; engraving and business approach to “make hay while the Collection of Firearms, Raymond Baldwin inlaying by Herman Leslie Ulrich. Serial No. sun shines.” Museum of Connecticut History, Hartford. 38549. Original records of the armoury of Czar The Navy No. 20133/. was likely left The Czar Nicholas I Dragoon, Nicholas I reveal that the gold mounted in England as a display piece, and was Navy and Pocket Colts, As Dragoon revolver No. 12407, the Navy No. sold through Christie’s in New York in 20131/., and the Pocket pistol No. 63305 an Americana sale, January 26, 1991. Well as Similar Revolvers were personally presented by Colonel Colt Discovery of that revolver, in an oak casing at Cratchina, in 1854. To quote an extract with Navy No. 23477/., was made by The above-noted percussion Colts were from these archives (translated from the collector Mark Dineley in the 1950s. The superbly engraved and mounted in flush original French): oak-cased set had been turned in to the and relief gold; backstraps were typically police; an illustrated newspaper clipping gold-washed – with the sole exception of These three revolvers of different accompanying these Colts relates that the President Lincoln revolvers, wherein have been presented to his story. The pair could easily have been gripstraps and buttcaps were of silver. Majesty in the autumn of 1854 (at destroyed by the authorities as “dangerous Except for ivory grips on Pocket pistol No. Cratchina), by Colonel Colt, the weapons.” 84624/. and on 1851 Navy No. 28470, inventor of the arm. Each one of the above-noted pistols were fitted with them in its case, with accoutrements Magnificent Colts identified Navy No. richly finished deluxe grain select walnut necessary for its use. 23477/. and Pocket No. 67498/. as a set, grips. The majority of these arms bore the as documented on pages 26-27 of that Cased set of Model 1851 Navy revolvers, as discovered by Mark Dineley, and acquired after the set was turned in during a police firearms barrel marking, Saml Colt, with gold inlaid The Dragoon No. 12406 (mate to the title. Likely in the process of being used amnesty, in the 1950s. The most deluxe revolver, Serial No. 21033/., contrasts with the less elaborate pistol, No. 23477/. Likely No. 20131/. Gothic style letters. A few of these pistols pistol given Czar Nicholas I) was reportedly as sample pieces, the pair was somehow had been removed from the double cased set for presentation to Czar Nicholas I, and then No. 23477/. was separated from Pocket accompanied Colonel Colt on an important presented by (or on behalf of) Colonel Colt split up. Model No. 67498/.; this unusual and still quite striking cased and matched ensemble was the result. Sold by Christie’s, New York, January promotional trip he made to England and to the Sultan of Turkey. It was discovered in 26, 1991, in a sale of American decorative arts. Featured in Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection, in Chapter I, the Continent in 1854. Among the calls “The Gold Standard.” © Robert M. Lee Trust. Gold inlaid and engraved pistol, Pocket Lack of Presentation and engraved New Model Army (Model Model No. 63271, was discovered behind Inscriptions on Most of the 1860) pistols commissioned from the Colt the ‘Iron Curtain’ in 1961. While touring factory by American President Abraham museums in Eastern Europe, Dr. Nolfo di Gold Inlaid Colts Lincoln. These were presented in 1863 Carpegna of the Odescalchi Collection as gifts of state from Lincoln to King Ironically none of the gold inlaid Colt (Rome), found the pistol in Czechoslovakia, Charles XV of Sweden and Norway and pistols known to have been presented to for sale in an antique shop; it was acquired to King Frederick VII of Denmark. Every the Czar or the Sultan were presentation for the equivalent of $15. Dr. di Carpegna detail on these arms is of perfection, inscribed. Certainly the reason for this was had asked the writer to bring the pistol and their designs are characteristic of the that Colt had intended to use the fancy to the U.S., find a buyer for it, investing ultra-richness of Victorian America, with pistols for special displays, with the hope the funds in a savings account. That was Germanic influences richer still. that the monarchs would be so taken by the sum the Doctor needed to fund an them that Colt would have no choice extensive tour of the United States, a Both pairs have buttcaps and gripstraps but to leave specimens as highly-prized few years after his great find. In time the of sterling silver, the butts finely engraved gifts. Further, the cases in which the Czar revolver was carefully cleaned by Lynton with the seal of the President of the Nicholas I and Sultan of Turkey revolvers McKenzie, and presently resides in a United States. Silver grip plaque inlays were discovered had no inscriptions, and private American collection, having been are engraved with the simple yet rather of the two, only the Sultan’s had been sold through Texas dealer and collector awesome inscription: The President/ custom made. L.C. Jackson to Stanley Diefenthal, of of the United States of America/to his Louisiana. Majesty/the King of... Recent research Diplomatic Presentations has identified Hermann Bodenstein as the Serial No. 63306 gold inlaid and engraved from President Abraham master engraver who embellished these Model 1849 Pocket was discovered c. 2010 Lincoln to Kings Charles XV magnificent arms. in France, and was sold by Sotheby’s at a and Frederick VII, Serial New York auction of Americana, January Each set is in a silver-mounted, velvet-lined 21, 2012. That four-inch barrel prize Nos. 31904/31905 and rosewood case, built in Hartford by William immediately went into a private collection 31906/31907 Milton, 13 Albany Avenue, Hartford. in the United States. The description in the Matching the Czar Nicholas I Sultan Matched set of Model 1849 Pocket and Model 1851 Navy revolvers, show pieces commissioned by Colonel Colt. The Pocket Model Serial Sotheby’s catalogue offers extensive, up- of Turkey pistols in magnificence, and No. 67498/.; the Navy Serial No. 23477/. Featured in Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection, in Chapter I, “The to-date information on No. 63306, as well surpassing them in historical importance, Gold Standard.” © Robert M. Lee Trust. as on other gold inlaid percussion Colts. are two pairs of gold-inlaid, silver-mounted 46 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 47 Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers

based on designs by Ward. Certainly Herman L. Ulrich was quite capable of designing his own embellishments.

Conclusion

The estimated total production of gold inlaid percussion Colt revolvers is some 30 to 35. This minute figure needs to be contrasted with the number of Colt percussion arms manufactured c. 1836- 42 and 1847-1873: the total is in excess of 1,000,000. In rarity, in workmanship, in artistry, and in historical interest, gold inlaid percussion revolvers represent the most desirable single group of arms in the Colt field.

The present article details the limited number of gold inlaid Colt percussion revolvers embellished by Gustave Young, Herman Bodenstein, and other artisans Presentation pair of Model 1860 Army revolvers, embellished by Herman Bodenstein, and presently known to the collecting fraternity. inscribed from the President of the United States to King Frederick VII, Serial Nos. 31904 Intriguingly, Colt factory, Young family and 31905. Photograph by Bo Hylander, at Jaegerspris Castle, Denmark, where the set is records and other sources indicate that exhibited. additional gold inlaid Colt percussion arms Rare Colt Revolver, Presented inlaying on the revolver is attributed are yet to be discovered. Among these The presentation pair of Model 1860 Army revolvers, by Herman Bodenstein, inscribed from the President of the United States to King treasures is a pair of New Model (1861) by the Factory, Gold Inlaid to Herman L. Ulrich, who is likely to Charles XVth of Sweden and Norway. Serial Nos. 31906 and 31907. Decades ago these arms were stolen from the Royal Armouries, have designed the decoration with Navy pistols and a New Model (1862) Stockholm, Sweden, and have yet to be recovered. For a color image, see the author’s The Colt Heritage and Colt An American Legend, and with “Tiffany Grip” instructions from a highly placed Police inlaid and engraved for display at Chapter V, “The New Models – An Era Ends,” page 99. official of the company. the Paris Exposition of 1867. Another pair, Another gold inlaid percussion Colt the Army Model of 1860, was reportedly revolver long known to collectors and Pictured within pages 288-289 of prepared for presentation to General U.S. aficionados is detailed as follows: The Colt Engraving Book, Volume I is Grant. And probably a few additional gold the following from State Department inlaid and engraved pistols were presented New Model (1862) Police revolver records, Instruction No. 68, of January by Colonel Colt to dignitaries in America Serial No. 38549: gold inlaid and 11, 1864, describing a pair of Colt and Europe. with gilt silver “Tiffany style” grips Model 1862 Police revolvers (nos. designed on commission of the U.S. 25513/E and 25514/E) commissioned From all indications, Samuel Colt anticipated Department of State, by John Quincy by President Abraham Lincoln, for his opportunities for business in Europe to Adams Ward (1830-1910). No. presentation to Kibrisili Pacha (as have been every bit as promising as his 38549 is documented in Colt factory inscribed on each grip escutcheon), sales in America. In this relentless push records as a presentation to James T. Governor of Adrianople. These for recognition and sales, the artistry of Ames. At the time of the revolver’s cased and deluxe revolvers have cast Gustave Young and his colleagues played commissioning in 1866, Ames was silver grips, but major steel parts were a distinctly significant role. And certainly the chief executive and owner of engraved only and not gold inlaid: in Samuel Colt, the Czar of Russia, the Ames Manufacturing Company, Sultan of Turkey, the King of Denmark, the Chicopee, Massachusetts. U.S. State The designs for the handles, which are of King of Sweden and Norway, and in arms- Department records in the National solid Silver . . . and those on the barrels related museums and the gun collector of Archives, Washington DC, indicate were made by Mr. Ward, a young and today, these distinguished artisans have that the designs for the grips were by promising sculptor of New York, who enjoyed the enthusiastic recognition which J.Q.A. Ward. No. 38549 is presently also superintended the workmanship, in the final measure is the reward artists in a private collection in the United which as you will perceive, is of the finest and craftsmen strive for throughout their States. description. creative lives.

The Colt factory records indicate No. The Colt factory gift to James T. Ames, 38549 to be a factory presentation, New Model Police Serial No. 38549, although the entry does not mention though fitted with the J.Q.A. Ward the presence of the gilt-silver “Tiffany grips, may or may not have had its Grip” created by John Quincy Adams The Model 1861 Navy pistols, Nos. 17239 and 17240, custom made for presentation from then Colt President Elisha King Root to gold inlaying and engraving executed Ward. The engraving and gold Lewis Lippold, a key Colt factory employee. Engraving and gold inlaying attributed to Herman Bodenstein. Featured in Magnificent Colts Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection, in Chapter I, “The Gold Standard.” © Robert M. Lee Trust.

48 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 49 Factory Gold Inlaid Colt Percussion Revolvers EDRED GWILLIAM ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR

FOR SALE: Always a comprehensive selection of pistols, guns, swords and armour available

WANTED: I am particularly keen to purchase and always off er immediate settlement

New Model (1862) Police revolver, Serial No. 38549, gold inlaid and with gilt silver “Tiffany” grips, designed by John Quincy Adams Ward, on commission of the U.S. Department of State. Presentation from the Colt factory to James T. Ames, of Ames Manufacturing Co., Chicopee, Massachusetts. Engraving and gold inlaying by Herman L. Ulrich. W.C. Foxley Collection, photographs by Douglas Sandberg, Courtesy of Greg Martin.

Author’s Bibliography Relating to Colt Colt Engraving (1982 edition) American Arms Collectors The Al Cali Firearms, Engraving, and Gold Inlaying Winchester The Golden Age of American Collection (2008) Samuel Colt Presents (1961) Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000 Theodore Roosevelt Hunter- The Arms Collection of Colonel Colt (1983) Conservationist (2009) (1964) Colt An American Legend (1985) American Engravers the 21st Century, by L.D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver (1965) The Peacemakers Arms and Adventure in Roger Bleile (2010; chapter by R.L. Wilson, The Rampant Colt (1969) the American West (1992) “Gun Engraving in America From the The Book of Colt Firearms (1971) The Deringer in America, Volume 2 (with 1700s Through Modern Times”) Antique Arms Annual (1971) L.D. Eberhart, 1993) Magnificent Colts Selections from the The Book of Colt Engraving (1972) Steel Canvas The Art of American Arms Robert M. Lee Collection (with Robert M. The Book of Winchester Engraving (1974) (1995) Lee; 2011) Colt Pistols (with R.E. Hable, 1976) The Colt Engraving Book (two volumes; Great Colt Treasures (2013) Paterson Colt Pistol Variations (with P.R. 2000, 2001) A Life’s Tapestry of a Collector – The Phillips, 1979) The Art of the Gun, five volume miniature George F. Gamble Collection (with Theodore Roosevelt Outdoorsman (1979) set (with Robert M. Lee; 2002-2003) George F. Gamble, 2013) The Colt Heritage (1979) The Paterson Colt Book, Dennis LeVett CANDLETREE HOUSE, CRICKLADE, WILTSHIRE SN6 6AX The “Russian” Colts (with Dr. Leonid Collection. (2002) Tarassuk, 1979) Things I Love The William I. Koch Collection Tel: 01793 750241 Fax: 01793 750359 Mob: 07836 613632 Rare and Historic Firearms (Christie’s (2005, section, Western Arms and auction catalogue, 1981) Accoutrements, pages 138-157) E-mail: [email protected] 50 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide The London Antique Arms Fair Guide 51 (visitors strictly by appointment) 52 The London Antique Arms Fair Guide