(A) FINE CASED PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK DUELING

These pistols were both made by Thomas Mortimer, a maker to His Majesty. Both pistols have round barrels with top flats engraved "T. MORTIMER - LONDON.". Both have small front sights and notched rear sights integral with the barrel tangs. Both has Damascus finished barrels and there is a platinum band at the breech on both pistols. Breeches are hooked, tanged are case hardened and engraved with British motifs and instruments. The touch holes are platinum lined. Both locks are retained by a single engraved lock screw and the flat lockplates have rounded stepped tails and feature reinforced cocks, fire blued sliding half cock safeties, waterproof pans, roller frizzens, and fire blued frizzen springs. The centers are engraved "T. MORTIMER" and their engraved with foliate motifs and musical instruments and the cocks are engraved with floral scrolls. The barrels are retained by barrel keys surrounded on both sides by silver octagonal escutcheons. There are also silver octagon escutcheons on the wrists. The trigger guards terminate in pineapple finials and are fire blued, the bows are engraved with British shields, crossed cannons, and musical instruments. The ramrod ferrules are also fire blued. The pistols are stocked in high quality partially figured walnut and there are shaped checkered panels around the grips. Both pistols have their original brass tipped wooden ramrods with the opposite end threaded with removable ball pullers. The pistols are housed in an oak case with a brass carry handle on top. There is also a brass key hole escutcheon and two brass hooks to secure the lid. The partitioned case has a green wool interior with two lidded compartments with turned bone knobs. Accessories include a copper flask, a large brass tipped wooden ramrod, a single cavity bullet mold marked "23", a large ball pulling device, and the case key. There is also a leather bag which holds six flints. CONDITION: Both pistols are in excellent condition. Barrels retain 90-95% of their original Damascus finish. Locks retain about 90% of their original case hardened and fire blued finishes with some of the colors turned to grey. Locks are in their original flintlock configurations and are extremely crisp, functioning well. One pistol has a broken top jaw screw, but the top jaw is present. Silver furniture retains a dark pewter patina and iron furniture retains about 85-90% of its original fire blued finishes with some flaking to rear trigger guard tangs and ramrod ferrules. Stocks are excellent with sharp edges and sharp checkering, with a few light scattered storage marks. Case shows some damage of lids. One hinge has been moved due to a break. Case was probably lined during the period of use. Interior shows some fading, staining, and moth damage. Accessories are in good condition. A very attractive pair of English dueling pistols by a desirable maker. Barrel Length: (BOTH) 8" Caliber/Bore: (BOTH) .60 Smoothbore FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: (BOTH) Mortimer Model: (BOTH) Duelling Pistol Serial Number: (BOTH) NSN