Pair of Sterling Silver Mounted F/L Pistols, Signed in Gold on Both Lock-Plates

and Barrels, “Georg Keiser in Wienn (Vienna).

Summation:

We originally were provided information about this gun from my grandfather. In the book “Forty-two

Years’ Scrapbook of Rare Ancient Firearms by F. Theodore Dexter, published by Warren F. Lewis, this

was originally a set, but I am currently in possession of gun #2. Georg Keiser was the personal Gunsmith

to the Hapsburg Emperor, Charles VI. These two guns were personally made for the Prince of

Liechtenstein, a principality that still exists today. The gun has a barrel length of 14 inches, with pure

gold inlay half way down the barrel. There is also gold inlay for the label of “Georg Keiser in Wienn” on

the lock plates, which is backed by a blue background. We know that Keiser was considered the greatest

Gunsmith during that period in Vienna. I am currently seeking a present estimation of value. In addition

the information in this document, there are supportive documents that I have sent along with this. This

includes a letter from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY, correspondence between my

grandfather and Dr. Bruno Thomas at the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna, and a letter from the

National Rifle Association of America.

The Royal Owner: Joseph (Josef) Wenzel, Price of Liechtenstein:

URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Wenzel,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein

After verifying both name and birth date with correspondence with the Kunsthistoreisches Museum on

August 27, 1959, with then curator Dr. Bruno Thomas, we know that the Prince was indeed a highly

regarded imperial and royal field-marshal, knight of the order of the Golden Vleece. In 1716 he began

his military career as pupil with Prince Eugene of Savoy, and took part in the conquest of Belgrade on

Aug. 16, 1717. After the peace treaty of Passarowitz the Prince spent years at him in Austria until 1730,

while studying and administrating his estates. He was also an avid hunter and contacted Georg Keiser,

who in 1731 and 1732 made hunting arms for his emperor and in 1734 the same for his military chief

and Veneeslas. The weaponry for the Prince was made when Keiser was at the age of 87; the same

period that many of the Vienna Waffensammlung collection was produced, which includes 18 signed

pieces. This is currently located at the fore mentioned museum.

Coat of arms of Liechtenstein:

URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Liechtenstein

Family Tree of Principality:

URL:

http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/portal_fuerstentum_liechtenstein

/fl-fueh-fuerstenhaus/fl-fueh-stammtafel.htm

Images:

I have attached the best photos I could to show the condition of the weapon. It includes the

coat of arms and “2” on the top of the gun. This is number 2 of the pair. I am not sure of the

location of gun #1.