Pair of Percussion Altered Brass Barrel Pistols by Parr

28 Bore (.55 caliber). 8.675" two stage octagon to round pinned barrels. NSN. Brass barrels, locks and furniture, walnut stocks. Single shot percussion altered brass barreled holster pistols made in a French form, likely 1st quarter of the 19th century and later altered to percussion with steel patent breeches. Both locks have been heavily polished, but the name PARR can barely be discerned on one lock. Upper left breech quadrants with "Tower Private Proofs". No other external markings. The pistols appear to have been made with belt hooks that are now missing. Brass button head steel ramrods are in place it the channels under the barrels. John Parr worked in Liverpool circa 1765-1803, with his James and later William joining him to form Parr & Son circa 1795. The firm was listed as "Merchants and African Gun Manufacturers" and remained in business through about 1820. These pistols were likely produced circa 1800-1820 in flint and later altered to percussion. Their French styling and apparent belt hooks suggest they may have been made for a ship's captain or merchant engaged in the African trade during that period. A nice set of pistols whose only real detraction is an overly aggressive cleaning.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bores moderately oxidized and discolored. Brass polished to bright removing the markings from one lock and nearly removing them from the other, also leaving the proofs somewhat soft. Mechanically functional actions. Stocks with scattered bumps, dings and mars and some more recent scuffs and scratches under the locks.

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Please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

timcarey@freemansauction.com 513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

timprince@freemansauction.com 312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Pair of Percussion Altered Brass Barrel Pistols by Parr

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