Watch List notes:

Late-1700s European flintlock pistol with silver presentation plate inscribed to Stephen Decatur, Jr. 993 grams, 20" long, 13-1/4" barrel. In the 1804 Battle of Tripoli, Stephen Decatur became a hero by storming the USS Philadelphia which had fallen into enemy hands and set it afire to thwart use by the enemy. Decatur was lauded for his daring tactics, and this very rare and important pistol with a silver presentation plate that reads, "Taken at Tripoli Presented to Captain Stephen Decatur 1805," in beautiful, delicate script was presented to him as a souvenir of the battle. The well-worn pistol of carved walnut stock contains a tapered steel barrel with engraved and gold-filled touch marks and an ornately decorated brass trigger guard, butt plate and side plate. Condition is good as befits a wartime relic with old repair to wood-split stock and later wire and sheet brass barrel bands, flintlock complete and working. Accompanying this pistol is an original engraving of Decatur. From the collection of Richard Boutelle, an avid gun collector whose collection was sold at auction in 1985 where this pistol was acquired. With photo-certificate.

Estimate: $800-1200