Make: Liege, Belgium
Model: Percussion Rifled Target / Dueling Pistols
Serial Number: NSNV
Year of Manufacture: 19th Century, likely mid-century / Antique
Caliber: .45 Caliber Percussion
Action Type: Single Shot, Percussion Muzzleloading Pistols
Markings: The side of each barrel is marked with an uncrowned “ELG” over a star in an oval, the definitive Liège proof associated with Belgian manufacture. This uncrowned form was used during the 19th century prior to adoption of the crowned version in 1893. No maker’s name is visible in the provided photographs. The lockplates, hammers, top tangs, trigger guards, bottom furniture, pommel caps, screws, escutcheons, and breech portions of the barrels are elegantly decorated with scroll engraving.
Barrel Length: 10”, tapered octagonal.
Sights / Optics: Each pistol is equipped with traditional fixed iron sights appropriate to a precision percussion pistol of the period.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are one-piece walnut with finely checkered grips, flared pommels, carved fore-end tips, decorative escutcheons, and engraved metal pommel caps. The stocks show scattered compressions, drag lines, and handling marks consistent with age. The checkering remains well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the stocks rate in Very Good antique condition.
Type of Finish: Dark Blued/Browned Barrels with Engraved Steel Furniture
Finish Originality: The barrels appear to be refinished having been blued over. The rest of the metal appears original.
Bore Condition: The bores are dark with numerous fine rifling grooves. The rifling remains sharp. There is light erosion throughout. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 7/10.
Overall Condition: These pistols retain about 65% of their current finish. The pistols show attractive and generally even antique age and use. The barrels retain a strong blued finish with scattered thinning, edge wear, handling marks, and minor age-related oxidation. The engraved locks and furniture have developed gray and brown patina with scattered finish loss and oxidation. The engraving remains generally sharp and attractive throughout. The screw heads show age and use but retain serviceable slots. The stocks retain good definition to their checkering and carved details. Overall, the pair rates in Very Good antique condition.
Mechanics: The actions function correctly. One percussion nipple has been flattened sufficiently that its flash channel is closed and will require attention or replacement. The nipple on the other pistol appears serviceable.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The pair comes housed in a fitted hardwood case with green felt-lined interior.
Our Assessment: These are an attractive matched pair of Belgian percussion pistols from the great 19th-century Liège gunmaking industry. Their long tapered octagonal barrels, finely rifled bores, matched configuration, checkered walnut stocks, and extensive scroll engraving are all characteristic of the refined Continental precision pistols produced during the percussion era.
Whether they were specifically built for formal dueling or for precision target shooting cannot be established from the surviving markings alone. Continental rifled target and dueling pistols can be extremely similar, and period pairs were produced for both purposes. For auction purposes, describing them as a matched pair of Belgian rifled percussion target/dueling pistols preserves the considerable historical interest of the set without overstating an undocumented provenance. They remain a handsome pair with matching architecture, extensive engraving, strong rifling, and an appealing period appearance.
