The 74-bore example (top) engraved J.R. Cooper’s Patent with Birmingham proofs and walnut grips, suffered some pitting and scuffing but was a Grade 3 weapon and made £1600.
The 60-bore pistol with chequered walnut grip (lower), signed W.J. Rigby Dublin, was also Grade 3 with some surface staining. It came complete with its original receipt when it sold to one J. Dogherty for nine guineas. At Birmingham it made £1450.
Slay bells ring at arms and armour specialists
UK: OTHER auctioneers may look for a seasonal angle but, as Birmingham arms and armour specialists Weller & Dufty (15 per cent buyer’s premium) are aware, the arms trade is not a natural beneficiary of the Christmas spirit. True, the two murderous six-shot pepperbox pistols, right, could have been carried by a passenger on one of those Christmas card coaches, but they were among the day’s top bids on December 6 for the less sentimental values of rarity and condition.
