A Cased Pair of 28 bore Duelling Pistols

Ref: 517

Price: £11,500

Maker: John Bass

Date: circa 1790

Each pistol with 10 inch browned octagonal sighted barrel with gold maker’s poinçoin and single gold band at the breech, tang engraved with trophies, plain bevel edged stepped and bolted lock signed “BASS”, walnut half  stock with finely chequered butt, iron furniture including trigger guard with trophies engraved on the bow and pineapple finial, horn tipped ramrods, one with worm; in their green baize lined mahogany case (lid lining removed) with accessories including a very good red leather covered three way flask, ball mould, turn screw and pewter oil bottle. London proof marks.

Notes: John Bass (1761 – 1794) was in partnership with his uncle, the renowned gunmaker, John Fox Twigg from 1788 until Twigg’s death in 1790. He traded under his own name from 1790 until his sudden death at the age of 33 in December 1794. The case for these pistols follows Twigg’s layout with the flask in the top left hand corner. For a history of the Twigg and Bass families see “Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790” by Neal & Back p.p. 61-82.