METMUSART

THE METROPOLITAN

MUSEUM OF ART

.NEW YORK. 28, N. Y.

December10, 1958

Mr. A. C. Keith, Jr. cf 0 Keith Motor Company

P. O. :SOx 2329
Amarillo J Texas Dear Mr. Keith: The coat of arms on your pistol Liechtenstein family_ is that of the

The figure on the lock is probably that of Minerva, the Romangoddess of reason, of invention, and of the 8.rts and sciences_ She beca~e identified with the Greek Athene and was given warlike attributes. The inscription on top of the barrel indicates that the barrelsmi th was 87 years of age at the time he made the barrel. Sincerely yours,

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Steuhen V. Grancsay Curator of Arms end Armor

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Nov. 29, 1958 Mr. A. C. Kei th, Jr. 127 N. Pa rkview Dr. Ama rl.llo, Texas Dear Mr. Kei th: The photos you llave sent us_are the best that we have seen in a long time. The photographer really knew his camera who di d them fa r you 0 r di d you do them you rsel f? . We are terribly sorry to be of so little help to you on your inquiry. First because we do not have a file, or source of Coats of Arms, and second becau~e wa',:do"not"havE;f: the meaning of the various symbols, faces, figures etc. used on the gun. We can give you thi s bit of data on the maker the name is KEISE Po no t Kel se r. Georg Keiser of Vienna was a famous gunsmith who Was aci;1Ve-un til a roll-nd---1-734. He was the son of 6a spe r Kei se r and was bo I'll in 1647. Towa rd the latte r pa rt of hi slife he be came the royal gumake r to the (lourts of Vi ella (Wi,enn) and Dresden. Without doubt the figure 2 is indicative that the gun Was one of a pai r. I t was customary to sO mark pal rs at that time. In ou r oolmon the gun was made toward the latter part of bis activity." ~possibly around 1730. It is a really beautiful gun and we only wish that we were able to g1. ve you more data on 1t. Why not sent the photo s to Mr. Stephen V Grancs8.y, Cura to r of the Metropoll tan Museum of Art, New York, N. Y. His experlence along this line is quite extensive. He may be able to give you more infonnation. . Our reference on Bond gives E. & W. Bond as being active in London from 1850-61. 'Ibis would appear to be :ro.ther late for flintlocks. Bonds on the other hand were noted gunsmiths in London from 1768 on to near 1880. There were severaJ. decendants and they were noted for thei r brass ~rrel flintlock pocket pistibls With spring bayonets and also for their flintlock blunderbusses with spring bayonet. Edward Bond, acti ve from 1800 to 1830 al so made such gun s. Howeve r we a:re of the opinion that your guns are much earlier say around 1780. It apoears th:~t the Bonds did work for the general publi c ra the'r than fa r the gave rnment a r Royalty. We hope tha t thi s bi t of info rmation on you r guns will be of help.

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di to one more reason why Eevery .

gun owner should belong to the NRA. Have you signed up a new member recently?

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Vi eLna , ~~y Dear

22th, 1959

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K e i t h

J'our 2.etter frou ..~une 25, ;al'CreSSec. tc ti.:e '':nivel'e.tty o~ Vie::.=.a to6etl:er ::i th L} ~r,;)to.;rapl:s ,,;:a:;; for-:':;.rded tc ~e a5 tlle di:-ector c~ t.~.e i~c..t:.cnal _-Jr~!.' -: ...Jr~~ Co::"2.;.::.ctian

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127 N. Parkview Drive A MAR ILL 0 , Texas, USA. Dear Mr. K e i t h , Your letter} of July 27, contains two questions, the one about the master of your pistol, the other one about its possessor. 1) Georg KEISER is probably the son of Kaspar Keiser, gunmaker at Eger, a formerly German town in Western Bohemia, now called Cheb in Czechoslovakia. He was born at Eger in 1647, was inscribed as apprentice in Vienna 1671, ended his studies in 1673, became master gunmaker_o~ the Vienna_guild_April 5, 1674, was still alive and active at the age of 91, i.e. in the year 1738. , Literature: Zeits~rift fUr historische Waffenkunde vol.5, 1909-11, p. 412, vol. 6, 1912-14, p.26; Johan st~ckel, Haandskydevaabens Bedommelse, (Determination of handfirearms) Kopenhagen 1938, vol. 1, mark 569/570. The Vienna Waffensammlung (Collection o~ arms and armor) contains 18 pieces signed Georg Keiser, guns, 'rifles, pistols with wh~ellock but mostly flintlock mechanism. Amongst them are the most precious those of our Emperor Charles VI., dated 1731 and 1732 (made at the age of 84, and 85 resp.), thosl of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the most famous of all Austrian marshals (made tat the age of 87', like yours), not to speak of a pair of pistols, dated 'at the age of 91', i.e.1738. From this .~ ,know that he was still alive in 1738. What we do not know is the-exact date of his death. 2) You are quite rightthat the arms on your pistol are those' of a prince (FUrst) LIECHTENSTEIN. I looked up the famIly' trees of this very old and renowned Austrian family in ~ll its different branches and came to the end that the pistol's possessor can hardly have been another one besides Johann Wenzel Laurenz (John Venceslas Lawrence), Aug.l0, 1b96 to Fe6r.10, 1772, imperial and royal field-ma~shal, knight of the order of the Golden Vleece. 1716 he began his military carreer as pupil with Prince ~gene of Savoy, took part in the conquest of Belgrade (Austrians and German imperial troups against the Turki) Aug.16, 1717. After the favorable peace treaty of Passarowitz he spent calm years at home in Austria until 1'{3D, studying and administrating his estates. : It should seem that in those years he also hunted a good deal and got into contact with Georg Keiser who in 1731 and 1732 made hunting arms for his emperor, and in 1734 the same for his military chief Eugene and for him, veneeslas personally. ' Now I have told you frankly what I can about your fine piece. I, from professional reasons, must add the statement that I am most interested in this items, certainly once one of a pair. I cannot without ask~g whether you would be willing to dispose of it in favour of the Vienna waffensammlung and what would be the price of it. Professionally, as a cv~ator

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very well that my report vall raise your appreciation for, and (whenever you think of giving it away) the price of the piece. In any case, let me congratulate you cordiallyyours sincerelY)i~~
Dr. Bruno THO~AS
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FORTY-TWO YEARS'

SCRAPBOOK
OF

RARE ANCIENT FIREARMS

Compiled by

F. THEODORE

DEXTER

LIMITED

2000-COPY

EDITION

SOLD BY SCBSCRIPTION

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\VARREN

F. LEvVIS,
LOS ANGELES

PUBLISHER

COpy

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This work, FORTY-TWO YEARS' SCRAPBOOK OF RARE ANCIENT FIREARlvfS, is dedicated to the most learned Craft Group in America-the Collectors of and Dealers in Ancient Arms and Armor, Curators of Arms and Armor, Writers on and Publishers of Works on Ancient Arms Subjects, Historians and Researchers on Martial Armor. This is the First and Last Edition, as over my signature, I depose and guarantee that all plates used in the publishing of this Work, have been destroyed. My grateful appreciation is extended to the owner and Social Usages of Ancient Arms and

of this numbered copy, along with my wishes that he may enjoy years of pleasurable associations in the Ancient Arms and Armor Field of America.

Los Angeles, California

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This Pair is interesting both as a mint-conditioned work of art, and from the fact~,:: that Georg Keiser was personal Gunsmith to the Hapsburg Emperor, Charles \tlf:.~'~ , who preceded Maria Theresa. The Coat of Arms on backs of both handles indicate ,:.' that this particular Pair was made or presented to the Prince of Liechtenstein (Liech. ~,', " tenstein, a Principality which still exists today, between Switzerland and Austria). ':;_, ' The 14 inch barrels are blue, with work of art pure gold inlay for half way down;'" the barrels. The gold inlay of "Georg Keiser In Wienn" on lock-plates, is backed by' a blue background, while the balance of the lock-plate is chiselled in natural steel to high-raised designs. ' Keiser is considered the greatest Gunsmith of his era in the great Capital that _ ,_ Vienna was in the first half of the 18th Century, A Pair of Pistols made by Keiser for Emperor Charles VI is exhibited in the Vienna Hapsburg Museum, and carries \irtually the same ornamentation shown on this Pair. This Pair shows, in fabrication and ornamentation the high culture of the most important capitals of Europe, P~ri~.;' ~ and Vienna. High demand for this Pair, as of 1953 at $2250.00.' ~.:.~.
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