An Exceptionally Rare Cased Pair of ‘Guns With-Out Locks’ by Riviere. With sighted octagonal barrels, signed ‘RIVIERE LONDON’ along the top flat and fitted with a rear sight towards the breech, decorated with an engraved platinum line and platinum plugs, profusely engraved tangs signed, ‘RIVIERE PATENT 241’ and ‘RIVIERE PATENT 242’ half-stocked in walnut, cut with chequering at the grip, with silver fore-end caps, blued spurred trigger guards profusely engraved throughout, engraved steel ramrod pipes, with original horn-tipped ramrods with concealed worms: contained in their original lined case with accessories including powder flask, bullet mould and loading rod. Riviere trade label signed and addressed ‘315 Oxford Street’ . An incredibly rare cased pair of pistols. 

Notes:

I can only find three similar pairs of pistols. One pair resides in the Royal Armouries - Collection Number XII. 1461 A. The other two formed part of Keith Neals famous collection that were sold in Christies sale on 8th November 1995 - Lot 202 and The Christies sale on 9th November 2000 Lot 163.

RIVIERE

Isaac 2 son of Isaac (1) born 1781, Gunmaker, 121 Oxford Street., 1809-17; 315 Oxford Street., 1818-51; 28 Piccadilly, 1822-9. Granted English Patent No. 5175 (for concealed percussion locks) in 1825. His lock was rejected by the Ordnance in 1834. He joined the H.A.C. in 1821, became a Captain in the Jäger Corps in which he served between 1833 and 1848, and died in 1851

Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA. 

Dimensions:

Bore: 25-Bore

Barrel Length: 10 Inches (25.40 cm)

Overall Length: 16 Inches (40.64 cm)