2020 September Premier, Volume I

The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection
244
LOT 276
Desirable Pair of Engraved and Gold Accented Boutet
Flintlock Dueling/Officer’s Pistols -A) Boutet Flintlock
Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 9 1/2 inch semi-octagon bbl., blue/
gold/bright finish, walnut stock. Nicolas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833) was gunmaker-in-ordinary to King Louis XVI in
1788 and became the artistic director of the arms factory at Versailles in 1792 and then its head director in 1798.
Under his direction, some of the finest “de luxe” firearms ever made flowed from Versailles and were presented to
military officers, politicians, and foreign dignitaries during Napoleon’s reign. These early 19th century pistols have
a swamped, semi-octagon (round bottom) barrel marked “Boutet Directeur Artiste” on top and “L.C.”, “N.B”, and
“L.C” at the breech along with “D.B” on the bottom left, fine poly-groove rifling, dovetailed blade and notch sights,
gold accented floral engraving at the breech, stars and stippled patterns along much of the visible surfaces, a pair
of gold bands at the muzzle, and an oval gold vent liner. There are “. .” assembly markings repeated at multiple
points at the breech and inside the forend of the first pistol. The bright barrel tang and furniture have border and
floral engraving. The lock is marked “MANUFRE/AVERSAILLES” and has a gold lined pan and a frizzen spring roller.
The trigger guard has a spur, and the set trigger is adjustable. The wrist is checkered and has carved borders, and
the lower edge of the pommel is also carved with a floral border.
CONDITION: Fine with most of the light blue finish and 90% gold remaining on the barrel along with a few
spots of isolated pitting near the vent, abrasive marks on muzzle, mostly bright polished furniture, some
minor oxidation, crisp engraving and markings, epoxy repair visible inside the forend visible only with the
barrel dismounted, minor wear on the refinished stock with otherwise crisp checkering, some flaking along
the carving at the edge of the pommel, and general mild age and storage related wear. The set trigger needs
some adjustments; otherwise mechanically excellent. B) Boutet Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 50 cal., 9 1/2 inch semioctagon
bbl., blue/gold/bright finish, walnut stock. See “A.”