The Kuchenreuter family of Regensburg were among the finest of the Germanic gunsmiths in the 18th and 19th centuries. Johann Adam Kuchenreuter was active until 1869. These pistols very well may have been owned by a nobleman of influential member of a royal court as Kuchenreuter was the court gunmaker for both the Princely House of Thurn & Taxis of Regensburg and the King of Bavaria. They could have been used for dueling, but they have adjustable rear sights, so they were probably designed for target shooting. They have interesting breech and lock arrangements. The swamped barrels have shallow rifling, dovetailed blade front sights, and "I. ADAM KUCHENREUTER." in gold inlay. The breech plugs have platinum liners surrounded with floral engraving. The upper tangs are numbered "1" and "2." The locks have wolf head hammers, "A REGENSBURG." at center, and scroll, floral, and martial engraving. The furniture is casehardened and also engraved with coordinating patterns. The pistols are equipped with adjustable single set triggers enclosed by spurred trigger guards. The stocks have raised relieve foliate carving, blank wrist escutcheons, and fine checkering with carved borders.

Very fine with 85% plus original brown finish on the barrel, 50% of the original case colors, light edge wear, minor handling and storage marks, crisp markings and engraving, and bright original gold inlay. The stock is fine other than a couple of repaired slivers along the right side of the forend and butt and has crisp carving and checkering, minor scratches and marks, a slight hairline crack at the tail of the lock, and mild edge wear. Mechanically fine.

See A.

Fine with 85% plus original brown finish on the barrel, 50% plus original case colors, bright original gold inlays, crisp engraving, slight oxidation, minor edge wear, and light scratches and marks. The stock is fine aside from some chipping on the right side edge of the forearm and has crisp checkering and carving, light edge wear, and general scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine. This is a very attractive and distinctive pair of pistols by one of the finest 19th century gunmakers and very well may have been owned by an influential member of a German court.