Product Description
Pistol by HENRY VAN WART .52 Washington Irving Tarrytown NY DUELING Antique
Saw-Handle, German Silver, Engraved, England
Here we present an antique Van Wart, Son & Company Dueling Pistol, made circa the mid-19th Century in England. Henry van Wart (1783-1873) was a leading American-English financier and export merchant out of Birmingham, England, who happened to also be the brother-in-law of Washington Irving, the author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as well as “Rip Van Winkle” among many other works. In fact, Henry Van Wart was responsible for inspiring Irving to write “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, an old tale based around Brom Bones that he had heard growing up in New York. Irving lived with the Van Warts for some time in Birmingham. For his part, Van Wart was very successful in Birmingham, becoming an English citizen by act of Parliament and settling into a thriving export business of Birmingham wares to the United States.
The top of the barrel is marked “LONDON”. The lock is marked “VAN WART, SON & CO”. Engraved German silver trigger guard and pommel cap with trap for percussion caps. German silver wedge escutcheons, fore end cap, and ramrod pipe. Matching German silver bands over the repaired crack. The octagonal barrel is .52 caliber, lightly engraved, platinum banded, and has “LONDON” marked on top, though the underside has Birmingham proofs.
The overall condition is good. Patinated throughout. The action is not presently functional as the hammer does not hold the half- or full-cock notches (we believe due to a weak sear spring), but the set trigger is functional. The bore is smooth and patintated. The stock has been repaired with German silver slabs laid across the crack and screwed into the wood. The stock shows use and remains solid.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 8-3/8 inches.
Caliber: .52 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$3300
#228262