A Fantastic Cased Pair of English Silver Mounted Over & Under Double Barrel Tap-Action Box-Lock Flintlock Pistols by NICHOLSON, LONDON

A Fantastic Cased Pair of English Silver Mounted Over & Under Double Barrel Tap-Action Box-Lock Flintlock Pistols by NICHOLSON, LONDON, c. 1788. The pistols have 5", .47 cal. round steel smooth bore "turn-off" barrels with engraved and "keyed" muzzles, and numbered to each chamber.  The barrels unscrew from the frame by inserting the barrel key into the muzzle.  The pistols have drop down triggers that are activated when the user pulls back the cock.  The box-lock frames have decorative engraving on both sides depicting panoply-of-arms surrounding "NICHOLSON" on the left and the makers address "No. 45 CORN HILL, LONDON" on the right.  The bottom of each frame is stamped with (2) oval "PROOF" and "VIEW" marks.  Each pistol has a barrel selector lever on the left side affording the shooter a choice of the top barrel or the bottom barrel or both at the same time.   Each pistol has decoratively engraved steel barrel tangs with top mounted sliding safety's.  Georgian engraved sterling s