This pair of pocket pistols showcases the work of two craftsmen separated by nearly a quarter of a millennium in time and a world apart in distance.
The gunmaker
Nicholas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833), arguably the greatest gunmaker of all time, gunmaker the king of France and the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
The engraver
Ray Hood FIPG. Ray is a world-renowned Master Hand Engraver. Originally from London, Ray now resides in Adelaide, Australia and runs his own successful business, London Engraver.
Ray is the only hand engraver in Australia to have completed an intense 6-year apprenticeship at Garrard & Co, the former Queen’s Crown Jewellers in London. He is a member of the venerated Goldsmith’s of London and was made a Freeman of the City of London for his services to the trade. Ray is also a Fellow of The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths.
The pistols
These particular pistols were chosen for several reasons: –
• They are in near-mint condition.
• They are fully signed in cursive script “Boutet Directeur Artiste” on one lock-plate & “Manufacture A VERSAILLES” on the other.
• They are of very plain grade, with no original engraving, other than a band at the muzzle.
It was common practice to use an outside engraver to decorate Boutet’s pocket pistols, Fleury Montagny (1760-1836) was a favourite, he also engraved pistols for Jean LePage (1779.1822). These pistols had to travel halfway round the world and wait over two hundred years to be engraved.
The engraving
The work on these pistols was carried out using a hand graver in the same manner as Boutet’s engravers, the only difference being that Ray uses a jeweller’s vice to hold the pistol instead of a sand-bag.
Hand engraving at this level is highly exclusive and very rarely found today, it is incredibly time-consuming and consequently extremely expensive. Ray only works on bespoke commission pieces that are unique and reflect the personal tastes of his client.
If you are prepared to wait many months, it is possible to get Ray to engrave that special piece for you, but you are standing behind Emirati royalty with very deep pockets and an appreciation of a rare and dying art.
I know Ray felt honoured to work on these pistols, and I feel sure that Boutet would be pleased to see his rather plain pistols appreciated in this way.
