An excellently made pair of cased 54 caliber flintlock target or dueling pistols by James Collins of London. The barrels have a brown Damascus finish with great dark patina.The exotic wood stocks are particularly well grained with the craftsman taking obvious care in selecting the wood for the areas which would remain unadorned. The silver accents are very well engraved, with tight scrollwork especially on the lockplates and on the underside of the gun which include flourishes with botanical and architectural motifs.
Both barrels marked with maker's name and address on the top: Collins, 12 Vigo Lane, Regent Street, London" and again "Collins" on each lockplate. The guns and accessories are housed in their original mahogany case lined with green felt. The unique brass and red leather powder flask has a small compartment in the bottom for flints. Brass accents on the case include a monogrammed disc in the center, with initials A.M.D. Whomever owned these pistols clearly used and valued them, as the case has the kind of warm patina that wood achieves with age and after much use and years of polishing.
