French, ca. 1865, Gastinne Renette, Paris.

Octagonal barrels (L 26.6 cm), Cal. 11 mm, rifled. Gold-inlaid gun numbers "1" and "2", chamber part with engraved vine decoration, deep-blue bronzing, signed "Gastinne Renette Arqr. de S.M. L'empereur à Paris", front and rear sight, bascule. The barrel undersides bear the mark GR under a crown in an oval. Flat lock plates, domed cocks, opulent tendril decoration, mechanism with chain and wedge. Iron mounts, all parts opulently decorated, grip caps with decorative knob. Opulently carved ebony stocks, few cracks, decorated with tendrils, flowers and leaves. Oval silver plate with heraldic animals. In a matching ebony box, slightly repaired. Cover with framed glass, the inside lined with burgundy velvet, contents: bullet pliers, powder flask covered with black leather, nickel-silver spout, powder measure, ramrod, loading hammer, cleaning rod, pistol wrench, screwdriver, two wooden boxes (one cover missing), spare pistons, box key. (Box dimensions, 48 x 26.5 x 9.5 cm).

L of the weapon 41.8 cm.

Dueling pistols of the best quality, in near mint condition, made by the Gastinne-Renette company in Paris. The company, known for luxury weapons, was founded in 1839 and existed until 1978. Gastinne-Renette was a Gunsmith to the Court of Emperor Napoleon III and was awarded a silver medal for his products at the Parisian Industrial Exhibitions of 1839 and 1844. Cf. Eugène Heer: Der Neue Støckel, Schwäbisch Hall 1968, Vol. I, p. 422.