(A) MASSIVE EARLY PAIR OF FLINTLOCK HESSIAN OFFICER'S

These circa 1740 holster pistols were made in Cassel, Germany by Bernard Pistor. Both have two-stage swamped iron barrels. The sections are separated by a wedding band and roped border. Both have brass inlaid spider sights and two-stage brass notched rear sights mounted on the front of the tangs. Both breaches have two gold cartouches. One with a crown and "PIS/TOR/CAS/SEL" and the other: a running unicorn. Both tang screws are fire-blued. Both have early banana lock plates with faceted faces. A face is engraved at the tail and the centers are chased with foliate motifs and marked "PISTOR/A CASSEL". The cocks are also chased with foliate motifs. The frizzen springs, faceted unbridled pans, screws, top jaws, and top jaw screws are all fire-blued. The touch holes are lined with brass. Both pistols have ornate, iron mounts including serpentine side plates featuring a grotesque face beneath the rear lock retaining screws and engraved with other foliate motifs. The square back trigger guards are faceted and the bows are engraved with geometric and foliate motifs. The fron finials are detailed with acanthus leaves. The triggers and trigger floor plates are also fire-blued. Both have large faceted pommel caps inscribed with the number "46" on the bottoms. The stirrups on each side are separate pieces. Multifaceted ramrod furls are also engraved with repeating foliate motifs and floral designs. The full-length walnut stocks are carved with relief acanthus leaf motifs around the barrel tangs as well as relief panels around the locks and side plates and cameo carving around the trigger guard and ramrod channel. Both have horn nosecaps and original horn tipped wooden ramrods. These massive pistols each measure over twenty-one inches overall. CONDITION: These pistols appear to come out of a Cassel collection in Europe due to their nearly pristine condition. Both barrels are bright with some scattered dark spotting. Barrels have sharp edges and bright bores. One pistol is missing its cartouches. Both locks are excellent, showing little or no use and both function perfectly, and are crisp. Locks retain 80-90% of their original polish and fire-blued surfaces. Frizzen screw on one pistol is a replacement. Furniture is clean bright and shows very little wear and only some minor spotting and storage marks. Stocks are excellent; showing a few light storage marks. A very attractive pair of early Hessian pistols by an important maker to the Landgraef family. Pistor was also in charge of producing military arms for the Hessian mercenaries that fought in America during the American Revolution. Barrel Length: (Both) 13-7/8" Caliber/Bore: (Both) .61 Smoothbore FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: (Both) Pistor Model: (Both) Flintlock Officer Serial Number: (Both) NSN