^Lot 4323 EARLY GERMANIC FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOL BY

HOFFMAN. Cal. 60. S# NSN. The 11" cannon turned swamped barrel is unmarked and has sighting groove through turnings at rear. Flint lock with round bodied arched plate is fitted with round bodied serpentine cock, rounded inset pan, unbridled friction frizzen and feather spring with fleur-de-lis finial. "HOFFMAN" is engraved under feather spring (one of three gunmakers with this last name working in various parts of Western Germany during the 1730's-40's). Elmwood stock with long knobbed grip extends to muzzle and is pinned to barrel. Bold mouldings are around lock and sideplate as well as along barrel and ramrod channels. They are enhanced by relief carved acanthus behind barrel tang and thimble. Brass mounts are intricately decorated with relief engraved shells, scrolls and foliage with man's torso on bottom of grip cap with long side spurs. Trigger guard with shells on bow has acanthus finial, multi-pierced sideplate is of scrolling acanthus with monsters heads and central shell. Crest plate at top of grip has relief cast crown and scrolls surrounding central coat-of-arms. Walnut ramrod with bone tip mounts through early style turned pipe and matching thimble. CONDITION: good as restored. Iron and steel parts cleaned to silver gray with some remaining light pitting. Stock with old oil refinish shows some softening of detail with repairs noted along barrel channel and across grip. Brass is fine; retaining most fine detail and is a pleasing golden hue. Bore is fair to good; fairly shiny, scattered pitting. Lock is good. A very attractive early pistol. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Nicholas Apergis. (01-27513/MGM). ANTIQUE. $1,500-2,250.