A Pair Of 12-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Blunderbuss-Pistols

A Pair Of 12-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Blunderbuss-Pistols By W. Jover, London, Circa 1770 With two-stage bronze barrels each turned and belled at the muzzle, octagonal breeches each engraved 'LONDON' along the top flat in front of a foliate scroll, and with flower-heads at the turned girdle, border engraved tangs each decorated with foliage, border engraved rounded locks (two side-nails replaced) each signed in capitals framed by foliate scrolls (engraving refreshed, one cock and one steel replaced) and decorated with foliage on the tail, figured full stocks (one fore-end mostly replaced) each inlaid with fine silver wire scrollwork and a shell around the barrel tang, cast and chased mounts comprising side-plates each pierced with scrolls, flowering foliage and shells, all centred on a shaped cartouche, vacant escutcheons en suite, border engraved spurred pommels each with grotesque mask cap and decorated with a martial trophy on both sides, trigger-guards (tangs probably repaired) each with shell and flower-head finial, and engraved with a martial trophy in an oval on the bow, turned ramrod-pipes, and silver-tipped ramrods, probably original, one with steel worm, London proof marks (2) 20.5 cm. barrels Footnotes: Provenance The Penrose Collection William 1 Jover is recorded as a partner in the firm of Nock, Jover and Green, 83 Long Acre, London in 1775. He specialised in making multi-shot firearms and went into partnership with his son, also William, between 1784 and 1810 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing