Beschreibung:

A RARE CASED PAIR OF 40-BORE GOSSET PATENT UNDER-HAMMER DETONATING TARGET PISTOLS By Louis-Marin-Gosset, Paris, circa 1820-25 With blued gold-inlaid polygroove rifled swamped octagonal barrels each signed in gold, numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, and each with gold fore-sight, case-hardened patent breeches each with two gold lines, finely engraved case-hardened actions decorated with flower-heads, birds, foliage, and minute vignettes of landscapes, the top-straps numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, signed 'Gosset Breveté' in gold within a gold oval, and fitted with gold back-sight, flattened figured walnut butts with laurel chequering, oval pommels finely carved with flower-heads and acanthus foliage in relief, finely engraved case-hardened spur trigger-guards, set triggers, case-hardened shaped oval pommel-caps each inlaid with a gorgon-mask in gold, and some original finish (scattered surface rust and pitting): in their original fitted mahogany-veneered case (damaged) lined in green baize (incomplete) with most of the original accessories including brass-mounted translucent horn flask, and a large number of original detonating discs 15½in. (39.4cm.)