Original French Made Matched Pair of Upmarket Rifled Percussion "Dueling" Pistols Retailed by Canfield Bros. Baltimore with Carved Stocks - Circa 1850

Original items. One of a Kind Set! This is a beautiful matched pair of French percussion pistols, often referred to a "Dueling Pistols", even though by the time these were produced duels were rarely performed, and they were never common. The pistols feature lovely 10 1/2" long octagonal barrels, which are actually sixteen sided towards the middle, with a further flute one one of the sides. The metalwork is all masterfully engraved, and the stocks are covered with high relief carving. Measuring 16 1/2 inches overall, these would definitely have been a bit long for every day use, but perfect for display over a mantelpiece or in a custom case.

Both are marked clearly across the rear of the barrel with CANFIELD BROTHERS BALTIMORE, which is a known mid 19th Century Outfitter, which lasted at least until the U.S. Civil War. We cannot find much on pistols marked by this company, so we assume these were brought in as a custom order for a particular customer. The barrels on both feature heavy seven groove rifling, and measure out at about .45". There are proof marks on the bottom of the barrel, which definitely look to be French, however we were not able to determine much from them. There is the marking J. DEMET marked at the front inside of the stock on both pistols, which could be the stock supplier, or possibly the person who executed the fantastic carvings in the wood.

We checked the locks on both, and they are fully functional, holding correctly at half cock an firing at full. The bores of both still show the rifling well, however they also do show fouling and oxidation, so these pistols were definitely used, most likely for target shooting. The stocks on both show some wear, with one showing cracking on both sides around the lock area, while the other shows evidence of a repaired crack around the grip area.

A fantastic pair of Mid 19th Century French "dueling" pistols, imported by a known Baltimore Outfitter, almost certainly for some well-heeled client. Definitely a great set more than worthy of further research!

Specifications (Both):-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Caliber: .65" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 10 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 16 1/2 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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