R B Rodda Pistols

[Ray S]

I have a matched pair of "dueling" pistols in a case with accesories.
Marked R.B.Rodda & Co.LTD, Piccadilly, London and Calcutta. they have 1802 stamped on each of them which I believe is the model #. As best I can determine is that R.B. Rodda lived from 1847-1900.These are percussion and have octagonal barrels.
What do I have and what is the value?

 

[Jim Watson]

RB Rodda was the leading gun maker and dealer in India of his day. I get the idea that he really built guns in Calcutta, didn't just bring them in from England, but don't know for sure.

A pair of percussion pistols would have had to be early in his career, and would have still been obsolescent, unless the customer really was getting set for dueling, even though it was illegal and out of style.

I doubt 1802 is a model number. Perhaps he assigned one serial number to the pair.

But all I really know is the answer to your last question.
A lot.

 

[JohnBT]

From the little bit I've read over the years I thought Rodda only made guns in India. Well, I just learned something new googling around...

www.drake.net/html/shotguns11.html+R.B.Rodda+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

This is an ad for a restocked and refurbished Rodda shotgun for sale for $17,500, but the description includes the statement that it was "...most certainly made by W. & C. Scott."

"R.B.Rodda was one of the premier retailers of the Victorian era with exclusive shops in both London and Calcutta which catered to the cream of British colonial and Indian society. In all my years I have never seen a mediocre quality gun bearing the Rodda name and this superb little example is no exception. Almost certainly made for Rodda by W.& C.Scott, this magnificent gun has been restocked and expertly refurbished in our own shop and is in absolutely 100% as-new condition throughout. You would be hard pressed to find a better British 28ga. SxS game gun."

In addition to calling some of the better gun dealers, I'd think about contacting a high-end auction house such as Sotheby's or Bonham's (they bought Butterfield in 2002) for a recommendation on where to get an appraisal.

John