Horst Held   =   Antique Handguns

  e-mail   held@ectisp.net
phone  972-775-8704           fax  972-775-3553
541 Lynnie Pennie Lane              Midlothian, Texas 76065

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makers B

 

Beckhuson in  Oxford, please see "blades and barrels"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BRAENDLIN ARMOURY BIRMINGHAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an interesting  "Howdah" type pistol,  # 6 on left side of breech, mandatory Birmingham proof, cal. .450,  four internal strikers. By pressing the button the system breaks open and the barrel-cluster tips down. The metal is grayish, the grip is crisp, with lanyard ring. Apparently the inscription was not very deep. An extremely rare pistol    $4,950.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cased open-top BENTLEY revolver, marked on right side of frame LONDON PATENT No. 36331
no other markings, cal. .44 percussion, octagonal 5" barrel with fixed sight, single- and double action, at least 50% bright blue remaining with few spots peeling and the butt straps minor pitting, crisp checkered grip, fine condition.
The revolver is in a green baize case with unmarked bullet mold, adjustable powder flask, nipple and screw driver, oil can, 3 tins, ramrod. The case is in fine condition. Fine set    $3,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cased engraved Bentley-Webley Open-Top percussion revolver retailed by

Adams & Co., London

circa 1855, no serial #, 4½" octagonal barrel with fixed front sight, top flat inscribed ADAMS & CO., LONDON, side-mounted loading lever, scroll-engraved muzzle and breech. The frame is also scroll-engraved,  as common for the early revolvers double-action only and therefore a spurless hammer. The walnut grips are nicely checkered.
The revolver comes in an oak case lined with green baize, containing a bag-shaped powder flask (Riling # 127), bullet mold marked 84 (bore) with sprue cutter,  three-piece pewter oil vessel,  mahogany mounted cleaning rod with brass cap concealing ball screw, nipple wrench with ebonized handle. On the lid is a  brass escutcheon plate.
Very good condition with much original blue on barrel, frame a light gray patina and excellent grips, accessories excellent, flask with staining on charger, case with later dark staining to exterior.
Literature: William C. Dowell "Webley Story"
A. W. F. Taylerson "The Revolver 1818 - 1865"
A early and rare cased set.     $4,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

made after T. Baker's patent April 12, 1852  double-action-only revolver with bar-hammer, "transition model" based on a pepperbox, no maker's name, mandatory British proof, exceptional condition with 98% vivid rainbow case color on cylinder, 95% deep barrel blue, frame has strong traces of blue,
fine checkered grips. There is an old and small dent and crack in backstrap, otherwise excellent condition.  The nice oak case comes with felt inlay, a very small flask and rod.
Please see Taylerson's book The Revolver 1818 - 1865.    A great and desirable set    $4,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A splendid ivory stocked percussion pistol
France, circa 1840.  Octagonal barrel becoming sixteen sided with patent breechblock and a ten groove rifled bore in cal. 11.5mm. Barrel and tang have richly gold inlaid scroll and leaf decoration, the tang is numbered "2". Lock and cock have gold inlaid vine decoration with grotesque masks. Ivory half stock with engraved and inked decoration. The trigger guard has a lion's head carved in relief in front of gold inlaid initials BM. The pommel cap and furniture are richly inlaid with en suite decoration. Length 40.5cm. Untouched condition. The metal pieces are slightly coated with rust in some places. The ivory stock shows some staining in spots and slight expansion cracks as common for antique ivory. Very attractive and scarce, probably # 2 of a pair of dueling pistols.     $10,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIRMINGHAM proofed pair of pocket-sized flintlock pistols, cal. ~ .48, 1½" turn-off barrel,  engraved brass frame, thumb piece safety-catch, not marked silver escutcheon, butt showing lion's head where interestingly the mouth is also a screw head, folding trigger, checkered grip, uncommon interesting shaped flash pan. With the pair comes a barrel-key that enables to remove the barrel.

A desirable, really fine pair    $3,100. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfield's Army Revolver # 138, cal. 41 percussion, 7" barrel, 80% blue on barrel and cylinder, brass frame, the disk primer complete and functioning (mostly lost or broken) flawless grips, scarce because the toe is often missing. Flayderman's # 7A-017. Of the few Butterfield's remaining the best! Excellent condition    $12,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BFC Bridgeport Firearms Company P66

the only cut-away made and unfortunately the pistol never went into production. The Berlin born immigrant Rolf . E. Dieckmann, then living in Connecticut, patented Nov. 1st 1965 this semi-automatic pistol. An interesting design featured in Gun World March 1966; Guns Oct. 1976; Guns Illustrated 1977; American Handgunner Sep. 1978 and Deutsches Waffen Journal DWJ. Included are copies of the U.S. Commissioner of Patents.
part of my collection, not for sale

 

 

 

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