(A) OUTSTANDING PAIR OF R.B. RODDA .577 SNYDER HOWDAH PISTOLS

(A) OUTSTANDING PAIR OF R.B. RODDA .577 SNYDER HOWDAH PISTOLS Skelp Damascus barrels with 5-groove Enfield type rifling are engraved “R. B. Rodda & Co. London & Calcutta” on high flat ribs with front portion raised to form base of beaded front sights dovetailed through ribs. Rear sights have one standing and two folding leaves. The first folding leaf is marked for 50 yards. Barrel flats have London black powder proofs for 25 bore. Bottoms of barrels have SNs, and barrel makers initials “CH”. Case hardened rounded bar Jones underlever actions have nicely filed fences. Peninsula back action non-rebounding locks have rounded serpentine hammers with high spurs. Rear portions of lockplates are bent downwards to flow smoothly with the grip. Action, lockplates and hammers have 40% coverage of shaded scroll. Left sides of action bar are engraved “Charge of Powder 1-1/2 Drs.” Each lockplate is engraved “R. B. Rodda & Co.” Trigger guard tangs extend to steel grip caps mounted with pivoting sling eyes, and they are engraved with SNs. Stocks form long pistol grip and are checkered at 20 LPI with mullered border. There are vacant silver oval crest plates at top of grips. 3 - 1/2" long miniature forends are uncheckered, have inset horn tips, and fasten to barrel with side nail through line engraved oval steel escutcheons. Guns are accompanied by a 10-round box of Old Western Scrounger 450gr black powder .577 Snyder ammunition, as well as two loose round of Kynoch .577 Snyder. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining an astounding amount of original finish, with the exception that the barrels of gun no. 18505 has been re-browned in a pleasing brown that almost matches barrels on gun no. 18506, which are original, and retain 90% plus of their original finish with a few areas of slight pitting. Actions and locks of both guns retain 90% original case hardening color, silvering in a few areas from handling, and have a few spots of pinprick pitting. Bright blue of trigger guards is flaked to about 40% going to silver and brown at grips. Stocks retain most of their original oil finish with a few marks and dings from handling and use, with some restoration to right grip area on gun no. 18505 (Restoration by red composition in-fill and re-cutting checkering is very hard to see). Actions are tight. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent, near mint. Finding a single Howdah pistol in this state of preservation is unusual; finding a pair is truly remarkable.Name Value Accessories Ammo Barrel Length (BOTH) 5 - 1/2" Caliber/Bore (BOTH) .577 Snyder FFL Status Antique Manufacturer (BOTH) Rodda Model (BOTH) Howdah Serial Number (A) 18505 (B) 18506, Name, Value, Accessories, Ammo, Barrel Length, (BOTH) 5 - 1/2", Caliber/Bore, (BOTH) .577 Snyder, FFL Status, Antique, Manufacturer, (BOTH) Rodda, Model, (BOTH) Howdah, Serial Number, (A) 18505 (B) 18506

Estimate:£11,336.25

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