1538

SILVER MOUNTED FLINTLOCK PISTOL WITH BRASS BARREL AND LOCK BY JOHN BENNETT.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
SILVER MOUNTED FLINTLOCK PISTOL WITH BRASS BARREL AND LOCK BY JOHN BENNETT.
NSN. (ca 1785) Cal. 583 Bore Diameter. This well made pistol has 9" brass barrel with octagonal breech section transitioning through wedding band to swamped round portion. Top flat of octagonal portion is engraved "Royal - Exchange London." Top left flat has Birmingham proofs. Unusual brass lockplate with integral pan has rebated tail with teat, and is engraved "Bennett" under pan. Steel bridled frizzen cams on spring with large roller. Spring has small bulbous finial. Plain, flat sided serpentine cock is nicely chamfered. Dense European walnut stock with bulbous grip, extends to muzzle and has nicely executed relief shell carving at top around bbl tang. Well appointed silver furniture is maker marked "CF" (Charles Freeth) and date marked for Birmingham 1783-4. John Bennett, retailer of this pistol, is listed in Heer, Der Neue Stockel, as working at Royal Exchange between 1781 and 1803. He is listed as a sword maker and goldsmith. His touchmark (IB) is deeply impressed on furniture behind trigger guard bow, and on left side of grip cap. The silver furniture consists of large grip cap, double beaded trigger guard with acorn finial, nicely pierced and engraved ribbon sideplate, oval escutcheon at grip, and beaded thimble and tailpipe holding greenheart ramrod with silver tip. CONDITION: Very good. Brass, having been cleaned in the past, is nicely toned to mustard. Breech plug is cracked across tang through screw hole. Wood is sound, showing some wear to sharp edges. Silver furniture is very fine, and well maintained. Lock is slip-hammered at full cock. Frizzen is crisp. A fine pistol most likely owned by a ships captain or some officer in sea service. 4-47163 MGM15