^Lot 2418 FINELY DECORATED EARLY 18TH CENTURY FLINTLOCK

PISTOL BY PIETRO PICOLA OF BRESCIA WITH LAZARINO COMINAZZO BARREL. Cal. 54. S# NSN. Heer lists a Pietro Picola working in Brescia around 1780. This pistol is obviously earlier, probably 1710-20. It has 12-1/2" barrel with fluted breech area engraved "LAZARINO CAMINAZZO" which transitions in two stages to round. Lock with early rounded plate has serpentine cock, small inset rounded pan, unbridled friction frizzen and feather spring with foliate finial. Maker's name is engraved along bottom. Lock is beautifully relief engraved with scrolling floral motifs which continue onto cock and frizzen. Stock of very dark and figured European walnut extends to muzzle with small steel tip and is pinned to barrel. Area around thimble is delicately raised carved. Bright polished steel mounts are also deep relief carved to match lock. Grip cap with long side spurs has superb intertwined scrolls surrounding flowers and dragons on sides. The same theme extends to large unpierced plate at top of grip, trigger guard with pierced finial, trigger plate and large sideplate. Trigger itself is backed by a coiled dragon. Ramrod with turned steel tip mounts through relief carved steel pipe and matching thimble. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy auction description of this gun and handwritten note that it sold for over 7,000 Euros. CONDITION: very fine as restored. Barrel and mounts show cleaning to pewter gray with all details remaining clear. Stock with old refinish shows many professional repairs at bottom between lock and sideplate as well as at top of grip. Bore is good with some fairly deep pits. Lock is operable. A very showy early pistol. (01-26952/MGM). ANTIQUE. $4,000-6,000.