German Target Pistols?

I was gifted this cased set of pistols made by Carl Ulbrich of Desden, Germany. I'm assuming mid-nineteenth century? Are they authentic? Are they valuable? I'll defer to the experts.
Thanks in advance!
John R.
Southeastern Pa.

Fantastic.

routefood said:

I was gifted this cased set of pistols made by Carl Ulbrich of Desden, Germany. I'm assuming mid-nineteenth century? Are they authentic? Are they valuable? I'll defer to the experts.
Thanks in advance!
John R.
Southeastern Pa.

Click to expand...

Your set of high grade Austrian pistols are valuable, set appears to be in near mint condition !!
Could not ask for a finer quality gift, must be a person that thought very highly of you.
My library of European gunmakers has gone missing since downsizing to a smaller home,
perhaps another member will page-in with info on the maker.
Can view similar sets at online auctions to get an idea of value in today's market.
I have no such friends

Relic shooter said:

Your set of high grade Austrian pistols are valuable, set appears to be in near mint condition !!
Could not ask for a finer quality gift, must be a person that thought very highly of you.
My library of European gunmakers has gone missing since downsizing to a smaller home,
perhaps another member will page-in with info on the maker.
Can view similar sets at online auctions to get an idea of value in today's market.
I have no such friends

Click to expand...

Thank you Relic Shooter!

Worthless. Send to me, I'll dispose of them for you. Really, old originals or new made replicas, I would say they have considerable value. Beautiful.

routefood said:

I was gifted this cased set of pistols made by Carl Ulbrich of Desden, Germany. I'm assuming mid-nineteenth century? Are they authentic? Are they valuable? I'll defer to the experts.
Thanks in advance!
John R.
Southeastern Pa.

Click to expand...

I will check my copy of Heer's "Der Neue Stockel" list of German gunsmiths from that time period, later today.

routefood said:

I was gifted this cased set of pistols made by Carl Ulbrich of Desden, Germany. I'm assuming mid-nineteenth century? Are they authentic? Are they valuable? I'll defer to the experts.
Thanks in advance!
John R.
Southeastern Pa.

Click to expand...

Beautiful!

OldSmoky1967 said:

I will check my copy of Heer's "Der Neue Stockel" list of German gunsmiths from that time period, later today.

Click to expand...

Is it true that the seller and the maker could be 2 separate entities?

OldSmoky1967 said:

I will check my copy of Heer's "Der Neue Stockel" list of German gunsmiths from that time period, later today.

Click to expand...

Thank you Old Smoky.

Rifleman1776 said:

Worthless. Send to me, I'll dispose of them for you. Really, old originals or new made replicas, I would say they have considerable value. Beautiful.

Click to expand...

They were given to me by a client who is terminally ill. His Father was in the army and in Germany at the end of WWII. He purchased them at that time. Could they have been reproductions, made during that time?

They were given to me by a client who is terminally ill. His Father was in the army and in Germany at the end of WWII. He purchased them at that time. Could they have been reproductions, made during that time?

Many fine original antique firearms were brought back to America by our veterans in their duffel bags .
Immediately after surrender many US forces in Germany were ordered to destroy all firearms they ran across, including some in museums.
Judging by photos & without examining them closer your set appears to have been made during the 1830-70s.
As mentioned earlier we downsized about 2.5 years ago, I haven't come across my library of European gunmakers as yet but looks like Ole Smokey may fix you up with better info on the maker & period they were producing.

Nice Survivors !
About 40 years ago I acquired part of a large collection from a long retired former veteran officer who was also a gun collector.
He told me that they were ordered to destroy hundreds of firearms confiscated from civilians & also from a local museum by running over them with half tracked vehicles.
Somehow he had the means to save many of the nicest flint & percussion era firearms & have them shipped back stateside to his wife..
Relic shooter

Beautiful set of pistols!

Relic shooter said:

They were given to me by a client who is terminally ill. His Father was in the army and in Germany at the end of WWII. He purchased them at that time. Could they have been reproductions, made during that time?

Many fine original antique firearms were brought back to America by our veterans in their duffel bags .
Immediately after surrender many US forces in Germany were ordered to destroy all firearms they ran across, including some in museums.
Judging by photos & without examining them closer your set appears to have been made during the 1830-70s.
As mentioned earlier we downsized about 2.5 years ago, I haven't come across my library of European gunmakers as yet but looks like Ole Smokey may fix you up with better info on the maker & period they were producing.

Nice Survivors !
About 40 years ago I acquired part of a large collection from a long retired former veteran officer who was also a gun collector.
He told me that they were ordered to destroy hundreds of firearms confiscated from civilians & also from a local museum by running over them with half tracked vehicles.
Somehow he had the means to save many of the nicest flint & percussion era firearms & have them shipped back stateside to his wife..
Relic shooter

Click to expand...

Thanks for the fascinating info. Very kind of you to take the time to educate me.

NOT reproductions.

The repro BP market is founded firmly on the wants of American shooters in the later 50's and early 60's. Fed by economy products from Spain and Italy, there never were any kind of German repros made, especially of VERY specialised firearms like these. Here in UK I would expect this beautiful cased pair from a prestigious gunmaker to make at least £10,000 - maybe more.

And BTW, DResden was not in Germany when these pistols were made. It was then, and still is, in Saxony, although that is now classed as a 'land/state' of the current Federal Republic of Germany. Germany per se did not exist until the Unification, which took place between 18 Aug 1866 and 18 Jan 1871.

TFoley said:

NOT reproductions.

The repro BP market is founded firmly on the wants of American shooters in the later 50's and early 60's. Fed by economy products from Spain and Italy, there never were any kind of German repros made, especially of VERY specialised firearms like these. Here in UK I would expect this beautiful cased pair from a prestigious gunmaker to make at least £10,000 - maybe more.

And BTW, DResden was not in Germany when these pistols were made. It was then, and still is, in Saxony, although that is now classed as a 'land/state' of the current Federal Republic of Germany. Germany per se did not exist until the Unification, which took place between 18 Aug 1866 and 18 Jan 1871.

Click to expand...

Thank you, TFoley. I appreciate your input. I have learned so much since posting this. The case is veneered Mahogany and not in good repair. The interior is fine. How does this affect value?

routefood said:

Thank you Old Smoky.

Click to expand...

Here is what I found. Looks like 1840 legit. Great acquisition! You can be very proud of those.

Look like museum pieces. I did get gifted a pocket watch once. You did much better.

OldSmoky1967 said:

Here is what I found. Looks like 1840 legit. Great acquisition! You can be very proud of those.

Click to expand...

Thanks for doing the leg work Old Smoky. I really appreciate it! Did he just make the one pair?

morehops52 said:

Look like museum pieces. I did get gifted a pocket watch once. You did much better.

Click to expand...

Thanks, morehops!

Wow, they're beautiful.