Interesting Pair of Highly Embellished 20-Bore Pistols Purportedly by Robert Delany ca. 1720

NSN, 20 Bore (.61 Caliber), 13 3/16" barrels with fair, pitted bores.  This is a handsome pair of pistols, measuring about 20 1/4" overall, with steel barrels, locks, and mountings, as well as extensive wire inlay decorations along the stocks.  The metal has an overall bright gray patina, and exhibits evidence of extensive polishing over the years.  Faint markings can still be seen on the barrel, including the remnants of a maker’s name on one of the pistols, but it is only barely visible and illegible.  There are no visible maker’s names on the locks, which are both equipped with pierced bridles.  The walnut stocks have an almost tiger striped grain, and have virtually complete wire inlays installed throughout.  Some of the wire has come loose in spots, but remains in place, forming geometric borders surrounding arabesque swirls and rosettes.  The wood remains in very good-fine shape, with one of the pistols having a linear chip at the toe of the bulbous butt, and wood screws protruding from the undersides of the stocks into the front branches of the trigger guards.  Both locks are fully functional and both pistols are equipped with non-original wooden ramrods.  The former owner identified the pistols as being the product of Robert Delany (or Delaney), a London maker who operated 1720 – 1725, and while the pistols are very similar in configuration to known examples, we are unaware of any with a similar wire inlay treatment along the stocks.  That said, this is a handsome pair of pistols and would make a great addition to any collection.  Antique