3301 DELIGHTFUL CASED PAIR OF NRA WINNING

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,500.00 USD
Estimated at 9,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
PHILADELPHIA SMOOTHBORE PERCUSSION DUELING PISTOLS BY KUNZ-ROBERTSON, FORMER WILLIAM R. ORBELO COLLECTION. Cal. 52. NSN. Bbl. 8 1/8". Delightful pair of smoothbore percussion dueling pistol produced by William Robertson of Philadelphia, PA during the mid-19th century. Robertson, a well-known Philadelphia gunsmith and maker of dueling pistols, was active from approximately 1829-1861, and had various shop addresses throughout the city, with his final address being listed at 131 Walnut Street in 1859. The pistols are both marked "ROBERTSON" over the top flat of the faceted Damascus bbls. at the breech. Back action lockplates and dolphin form hammers exhibit finely executed floral style engraving, which is also present on the bbl. tangs. Trigger guards are engraved with a floral motif and terminate in a pineapple finial. Wood half-stocks feature narrow pointed checkered wrists with flat butts, and exhibit rectangular German silver inlays on the rear of the wrists, as well as German silver bbl. wedge escutcheons and nosecaps. Brass tipped ebony ramrods feed through a single iron thimble on a half-length rib. Dovetailed German silver blade front sights with deep iron V-notch rear sights. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: fitted hardwood case featuring a green fabric lining and containing a key, 3 percussion cap tins, 1 ball mold, 1 brass powder flask, 1 oiler, 1 screwdriver, 1 nipple wrench, as well as a cleaning rod. Interior of lid retains an NRA annual meetings exhibit weapons award Certificate of Recognition (Certificate #200) that was awarded at the 190th Annual Meetings of the NRA on April 13th of 1980 at Kansas City, MO, that is marked "Pair of Kunz-Robertson, Philadelphia Dueling Pistols/ Lt. Col. William R. Orbelo". CONDITION: iron components, including the lockplates, hammers, bolsters, trigger guards, and thimbles, exhibit a pleasing gray patina overall, with traces of original bluing present on the bbl. tangs. Bbls. retain their distinct Damascus twist patterns, while the balance exhibits an aged gray patina, with some areas showing a pleasing brown patina, and scattered spots of appropriate age-related discoloration. Both actions hold cock, half cock, and function appropriate when cycled by hand. Stocks exhibit some scattered marks from handling and storage, with some small impressions present overall. One pistol exhibits a crack stemming from the breech plug / bbl. tang, but otherwise appears to remain sturdy and serviceable. Case exhibits several notable cracks on the lid, with scattered losses to the exterior layer via age related delamination overall. Brass components exhibit a pleasing mellow brown patina, with the original lid escutcheon being absent. An exceptionally attractive cased pair of both rare and desirable American made dueling pistols by Kunz-Robertson, that were formerly of the collection of Lt. Col. William R. Orbelo. (01-24818/MLW). ANTIQUE. $9,000-15,000.