![](uploads/egg 1(1).jpg)
![](images/view-all.png) |
SOLD SOLD (10/07) **MINT BORES**QUALITY MAKER**DURS EGG LONDON**C1830 Double Barrelled 20 Bore Percussion ‘Howdah’ Pistol With Captive Steel Ram Rod. Sn 21880 - 21880 The famous Durs Egg (1748–1831) was a Swiss-born British gunmaker, noted for his quality pistols and for his company's production of the Ferguson rifle. Egg was apprenticed in Solothurn and Paris before establishing his own business in London in 1772. He was a contemporary of Joseph Manton, Jean Samuel Pauly and the uncle of Joseph Egg. When the famous gunsmith Durs Egg died in 1831 his Son John Egg took over the business operating at Haymarket London. In 1839 The business name reverted to Durs Egg at 4 Pall Mall London until 1854 then at 4 Colonnade Pall Mall from 1855 to 1865. The Howdah pistol was a large-calibre handgun, often with two or four barrels, used in India and Africa from the beginning of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, during the period of British Colonial rule. It was typically intended for defence against Tigers, Lions, and other dangerous animals that might be encountered in remote areas. The term "howdah pistol" comes from the howdah, a large platform mounted on the back of an Elephant. Hunters, especially during the period of the British Raj in India, used Howdahs as a platform for hunting wild animals and needed large-calibre side-arms for protection from animal attacks at close quarters. The earliest Howdah pistols were flintlock designs, and it was not until about 60 years later percussion models in single or double barrel configuration were seen. Even though Howdah pistols were designed for emergency defence from dangerous animals in Africa and India, British Officers adopted them as holster pistols for personal protection in other far-flung outposts of the British Empire. This is an excellent, original, percussion double barrel Howdah pistol by the prestigious gunmaker Durs Egg of London. Its side by side blued steel barrels are 6” in length and are 20 Bore. It measures 12 ¼” overall length. The smooth bores are near mint clean & bright. It has a broad top rib signed ‘London’ and has a brass bead fore sight. It is complete with captive steel ram rod. The all original walnut stock has no damage, has chequered panels at the grip and inlaid void German silver escutcheon on top of the wrist. It has double triggers and heavy Dolphin hammers. Its action plates, action tang, trigger guard with extended tang and Pineapple finial & hammers are tooled with foliate decoration. Both action plates are crisply signed 'D. Egg’. The pistol cocks and dry fires crisply. The price for this percussion pistol by a quality gunmaker includes UK delivery. NB as an antique percussion pistol no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21880
£0.00
|
![](images/addtocart.png) |