I think know that I am "addicted" to antique pistols ..
D EGG LONDON (1748-1832).. (before clean-up)
Broken-absent 'NIPPLE GUARD'.
As delivered .. the Walnut stocks were covered in a grunge of grease clogging the checkering and darkening the colour - while areas of the metal were peppered with warts of black coke over pustules of live RUST .. experts know this as patina. Rubbing down with '0000' steel wool wetted with alcohol and a soft stylus lifted the surface dirt of ages to reveal beauty (and pitting) underneath .. Before I go to the Death Chamber I need to confess that the 'WAX' treatment I use is a greasy rag from an old pot of local 'PROTECT NATURALLY' beeswax-lanolin leather treatment that I've had for ever.
- CLEANING - PRESERVATION - REPAIRING - REPLACING
- RESTORATION?- ENHANCING? - RENEWING? - REFINISHING?
- They say that opinions are like assholes .. Everyone has got one .. but I insist on first de-rusting and cleaning away the snot-of-ages from old stuff while assessing it's condition.
Most of the antiques I can afford are battered from long use & misuse .. meaning that over centuries they did their jobs .. If you find a 170 or 270 year old tool that is undinged and unused - such as this 'MARIETTE' pistol ..
- The rarest multi-million dollar classic Ferrari car is rare for a reason - Back in the day Enzo only made a couple - because it was overpriced crap.
The EGG name and fine decorative engraving lifts the value of this new piece .. and it's in fair condition too. - During 'The Regency Period' 1811-1820 - Swiss born Durs Egg was famous in London Society for fine craftsmanship that resulted in his guns being "by Royal Appointment".
This "turnover" percussion pocket Pistol - to me clearly was sourced from the Birmingham Gun Quarter by this leading London Gun Dealer for finishing & engraving in central London - and the quality 'feel' with lovely 3D engraving is satisfying.
Monoblock 48-bore (.430 inch, 11 mm), Boxlock - Side Hammer two barrel turnover, with dropdown trigger .. Main faults are the broken-missing NIPPLE GUARD - and while functional, the spring loaded 'detant' meant to position the revolving barrels is notchy and uncertain - needing servicing.
Just like the other one .. This variant from D Mortimer (from an Auction Site)
I'm seriously theorising that - like many 'Swiss Watches' with base components made in China, - all three examples were likely supplied to specialist gunmakers from Birmingham's Gun Quarter in the white. - How could we firm-up this idea? - And where there's three - there'd have to be MORE.
WARNING: I waste hours repeatedly correcting Google AI on multiple false statements during this researching ..Do NOT rely on AI for any factual data without crosschecking .. After extended questioning Google AI admitted .." When a query requires deep, specialized archival research, my system relies on its internal training data—and when that data is missing, the predictive text engine fills the gaps with hallucinations that sound authoritative but are structurally hollow."
Google AI is a Story Teller and specifically programmed to bullshit, flatter, and lie in a sycophantic but authorative manner when it lacks factual data .. It makes it up when it doesn' know.
If Government POLICIES are based on research gleaned from 'AI' .. I am unsurprised that MP's repeatedly impose ineffective, dangerously stupid regulation.
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There is a fine video about BSA - BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS @ bottom of Page 5 ..
Or Linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmDe1EmE_NM&t=331s
Life is GOOD .. as long as there are new toys to arrive,
FIREARMS LICENCES ESSENTIAL FOR NZ POLICE.
Why should anyone be exempt?
Marty K.
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