Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, September 4th. The auction will begin at 10:00AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, September 5th or Saturday, September 6th.
A pair of Captain Jack Sparrow's (Johnny Depp) screen-matched and photo-matched 18th-century flintlock dueling pistols from Rob Marshall's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Jack carried flintlock pistols throughout the franchise as his signature weapon. A distinctive mark at the base of one pistol, the discoloration on the wood on the side, and a nick at the base of the right-side of the hammer where it meets the lockplate screen-match it to when Sparrow, Angelica Teach (Penelope Cruz), and her father Edward "Blackbeard" Teach (Ian McShane) were making their way to the Fountain of Youth, with Sparrow ultimately jumping from the cliff to retrieve the two Chalices of Cartagena that allowed entry to the Fountain. Distinctive scratches in the wood and the wood grain itself on the bottom of the other pistol screen-matches it to when Sparrow tossed it toward Angelica while marooning her on Sola Fide, declaring, "One pistol. One shot," and the pistol still has sand stuck around the hammer cap screw's thread from when it was thrown to the ground. Both pistols photo-match to promotional stills from the production. While these two pistols are the same model and are a historically matching pair, they were never used at the same time during production, as Sparrow is armed with two flintlocks of differing styles. These pistols are among the only screen-matched hero firearms from the series to be offered in public auction and represent a defining element of Sparrow's character, steeped in both cinematic legacy and historical authenticity.
This matching set of antique Queen Anne-style pistols is an exceptionally rare example of genuine 18th-century firearms repurposed as hero props. Each features a top-mounted flintlock mechanism and ornate metalwork with distinctive face plates on the pommel. One barrel is engraved "BIRMINGHAM," the other "R. WILLOUGHBY," while the underside of each grip bears the proof marks "P" and "V" and the maker's mark "WR." The pistols are sequentially stamped "1/1" and "2/2," indicating they were originally constructed as a dueling set - likely around the 1740s. The weapons were sourced by Tortuga Trading Company, which supplied period-correct firearms used across the Pirates franchise, including hero weapons carried by Depp.
Included with the pistols is an antique lacquered-wood case containing the full complement of period maintenance and reloading tools, consistent with what would have accompanied a dueling set of this type. The contents include a gunpowder flask, round ball mold, seven lead balls, a ramrod, a duel-shot measure, a lockbox key, and several other specialized tools, such as a screwdriver-style instrument and a chisel. A hand-written paper fragment inside the lid reads, "M. Samuel Vernon to the Prispell Bi," and the case interior is lined in green fabric, believed to have been reupholstered in the last fifty years. This pair is notable for their extraordinary completeness, authenticity, and condition. They exhibit expected age-related wear including nicked wood, patina to the metal components, and one missing point on a hook closure, but remain stable and visually impressive. Dimensions of the largest piece: 16" x 9.5" x 3" (40.75 cm x 24.25 cm x 7.75 cm).
These antique firearms, manufactured prior to 1898, are not classified as modern firearms and are exempt from transfer restrictions.
Estimate: $50,000 - 100,000
View all lots from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (2011)
View all lots from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - ALL ITEMS