A RARE PAIR OF 25 BORE AUSTRIAN FLINTLOCK WENDER PISTOLS BY FRIEDR. RIES, CIRCA 1730

A RARE PAIR OF 25 BORE AUSTRIAN FLINTLOCK WENDER PISTOLS BY FRIEDR. RIES, CIRCA 1730 each with sighted turn-over barrels with octagonal breeches and silver 'spider' fore-sights, fitted with engraved plates facing the breeches and actions engraved with rococo scrollwork and numbered '1' and '2' respectively, iron tangs chiselled with further scrolls and an expanded flowerhead on a matted ground, signed border-engraved rounded locks, figured walnut full stocks carved with rococo foliage and scrollwork about the lock and breech tang, impressed with an early gewehrkammer number '109' beneath the lock, gilt-brass mounts cast in low relief with rococo scrollwork and foliage on a finely matted ground, comprising trigger-guards incorporating a lever on the forward portion to release the barrels, solid side-plates, spurred pommels and a pair of ramrod-pipes, engraved gilt-brass fore-end caps, and wooden ramrods with engraved gilt-brass tips 21.8 cm; 8 5/8 in barrels (2) Friederich Riss von Grölln (?) is recorded in Vienna as the son of a master gunsmith 17th July 1718.