Marks on lockplate illegible, but enough can be deciphered to show that it was made by H. Aston, of Middleton, Conn. Ramrod not original, and swivel is missing, but otherwise the pistol is in good shooting order.
69. UNUSUAL SET OF DEVISME REVOLVERS.
Contained in ebony case, 13" × 7", lined with purple velvet. Fitted compartments, containing a large six-shot belt revolver of Devisme's invention, about .45 calibre, a seven-shot .22 calibre Smith & Wesson pocket revolver and accessories and ammunition. On the inside of the lid, in gold letters, "Devisme, 56, Boulevard des Italiens, Paris." This is a most unusual combination of a belt and a pocket revolver in the same case. The little pistol is marked with the name, address and patent dates of the Smith & Wesson company and also with "Claudin, Brevete a Paris, Boulevard des Italiens, 38". Extremely rare and in almost new condition.
70. PAIR OF PERCUSSION HOLSTER PISTOLS. L. 13"
Silver name-plates and key-plates, beautifully checkered grips, twist steel barrels and ramrod ribbs, swivel ramrods. Barrels are extraordinarily heavy, of about .50 calibre. Smooth bore. Spur trigger-guards and horn tipped fore-ends. Mark, on lockplates and barrels, "Champion, Chichester." These pistols were apparently at one time cased, for they are accompanied by cleaning rod with detachable head, nipple-wrench, bullet mould and combination powder and cap flask. All in new condition.
71. SINGLE-SHOT BREECH-LOADING PISTOL. L. 13"
The only one of the sort that the cataloguer has ever seen. Probably an inventor's model. No marks anywhere on it. Stud on the left side of barrel opens the piece when pushed forward. About .40 cal.
72. U. S. ARMY LUGER AUTOMATIC. L. 9"
Calibre, 7.65 mm. A thousand of these arms were purchased by the Government in 1901 for experimental purposes, with the view of making them standard army equipment. They were found to be deficient in stopping power, due to their small calibre, and were for the most part sold to Bannerman & Co., of New York. Differences from the ordinary commercial Luger are as follows:—one inch longer barrel, grip of black walnut, U. S. coat of arms stamped on receiver, and thumb-safety is reversed. Curiously enough, this particular pistol was purchased from a gunsmith by W. Fall Gardner, of New York City, while at Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1920, and while with the American Army of Occupation. It is interesting to speculate how the weapon found its way back to the country of its origin. Rare.
73. BOOTJACK "PISTOL". L. 8"