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Learn MoreFirst Prize Set of Percussion Pistols by H. Tourey of Liège
- This cased set of percussion pistols by H. Tourey of Liège is a technical and historical treasure
- The set was presented as the First Personal Prize at a prestigious 1854 shooting competition
- This competition was hosted by the Royal Marksmen's Guild of The Hague
- Each pistol displays 19th-century European craftsmanship at its peak with scroll engraving and foliate motifs
- Get complete item description here
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H. Tourey of Liège
Dated 1854
This exceptional cased set of percussion pistols by H. Tourey of Liège is a technical and historical treasure. Presented as the First Personal Prize at a prestigious 1854 shooting competition hosted by the Royal Marksmen's Guild of The Hague, this pair of pistols exemplifies 19th-century European craftsmanship at its peak. Housed in a kingwood case with a brass-inscribed medallion commemorating the. . .
H. Tourey of Liège
Dated 1854
This exceptional cased set of percussion pistols by H. Tourey of Liège is a technical and historical treasure. Presented as the First Personal Prize at a prestigious 1854 shooting competition hosted by the Royal Marksmen's Guild of The Hague, this pair of pistols exemplifies 19th-century European craftsmanship at its peak. Housed in a kingwood case with a brass-inscribed medallion commemorating the event, this ensemble is a rare example from a time when marksmanship was not only a civic duty but also a genteel sport.
Each pistol displays a finely blued octagonal barrel, engraved “H. Tourey a Liège,” with expertly executed scroll engraving to the breech, lock and trigger guard. The carved walnut half-stocks display flowing foliate motifs, while the fitted red velvet interior reveals a full complement of original accessories, including cleaning and loading rods, mold, screwdriver/nipple wrench and powder measure.
Founded in 1839 and granted royal patronage by King Willem III in 1851, the Koninklijk Scherpschuttersgilde ("Royal Marksmen’s Guild") was one of the Netherlands’ most prestigious civic associations. Combining military preparedness with social refinement, it held annual competitions under the motto “For Practice and Entertainment.” Participants, often drawn from the ranks of the city’s elite, competed for lavish prizes and the Guild’s ties to the monarchy underscored its cultural significance during the mid-19th century.
Case and barrel signed by H. Tourey of Liège
Case mounted with a brass medallion inscribed “Algemeen Concours, 3 Junij 1854. / 1e Personele Prijs van het / Koninklijk Scherpschuttersgilde / Oefening en Vermaak / te / ’s Gravenhage”
(General Competition, 3 June 1854. 1st Personal Prize of the Royal Marksmen's Guild. Practice and Entertainment at The Hague)
Case: 3" high x 18 3/4" wide x 11 3/8" deep

Period: | 19th Century |
Type: | Arms and Armor |
Depth: | 11.33 in. (28.77 cm) |
Width: | 18.75 in. (47.63 cm) |
Height: | 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) |

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