A Fine, Large Pair of European Percussion Target Pistols with Damascus Barrels, Circa 1850.

A Fine, Large Pair of European Percussion Target Pistols with Damascus Barrels, Circa 1850. This elegant pair of mid-19th-century percussion target pistols represents the example of Continental European firearms craftsmanship, likely originating from a premier workshop in France or Belgium. Each pistol features a heavy octagonal barrel forged from Damascus steel, displaying a distinctive feathered pattern and fitted with a bead front sight. The half-stocks are expertly fashioned from figured walnut, characterized by refined shell-carved motifs at the fore-ends and ergonomically shaped grips that terminate in flared, steel-capped pommels decorated with foliate relief borders. The steel furniture is functional yet sophisticated, including spurred trigger guards designed to provide a secure rest for the middle finger, a feature typical of high-quality dueling or target arms of the period. While the locks are elegantly plain and unsigned, the precision of the fit and the balance of the pieces suggest a maker of significant skill. Technical measurements indicate a caliber of approximately 12.6 mm, with each pistol possessing a total length of 44 cm. The item is in good condition.