PAIR OF SNAP-LOCK PISTOLS

Spanish, end of 18th century, Ripoll / Barcelona, master craftsmen Mas and Deop.
Round barrels (L 25.1 cm), Cal. 16 mm, octagonal chamber halves, silver inlays, struck marks: "FO / MAS / SAVI" with a crown on top, and mark Barcelona "SA". Snap locks, mark: "I. H. DEOP" with a crown on top. Brass mounts, grip caps decorated with mascarons, side plates and thumb rests, trigger guard, two ramrod sleeves. Carved walnut shafts, wooden ramrods.
L 42.8 cm.

The Deop gunsmith dynasty, probably from Germany, was present in Ripoll since the 16th century. Ripoll was in active contact with Barcelona; the gunsmiths Mas were active in Ripoll as well as in Barcelona, as suggested by the mark. Cf. Eugène Heer: Der Neue Støckel, Schwäbisch Hall 1968, Vol. I, p. 286, Vol. II, p. 768, Vol. III, pp. 1527/28.