2561

PAIR OF JOSEPH GRIFFIN BRASS BARRELED SILVER MOUNTED FLINTLOCK NAVAL OFFICERS PISTOLS.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:17,500.00 - 27,500.00 USD
PAIR OF JOSEPH GRIFFIN BRASS BARRELED SILVER MOUNTED FLINTLOCK NAVAL OFFICERS PISTOLS.
NSN. (ca 1765) Cal. .640 Smooth bore. 9" Brass bbls transition from octagon at breech to round through swamp to slightly flared muzzles. Breech ends decorated with band and geometric designs, are engraved "GRIFFIN LONDON" (highly regarded English maker, during the mid 18th century. He was master of the Gunmakers Company 1763/4) on top flats within line border with loop finials. Top left flats are stamped with John Griffin's armorers marks and London proofs. Locks with brass plates, non-waterproof pans, and bridled friction frizzens, are fitted with flat faced, chamfered, serpentine cocks, and back sliding, broad safeties. Safety buttons, cocks, frizzens and springs are nicely filed steel. All lock parts are engraved with fine geometric borders and some scroll. "GRIFFIN" is in scrolled band under pans. Dense European walnut stocks with knob butts extending to muzzles are pinned to bbls, and have nicely carved moldings around locks and sideplates. There are raised, carved, shell motifs around bbl tangs. All furniture is of silver and consists of large butt caps with grotesque face, relief cast sideplates, and grip escutcheons in foliate pattern. Double beaded trigger guards have fleur-di-lis and flower finials, which are hallmarked. One gun has a full set of hallmarks for John King, London, date marked 1765/6. The other has a single hallmark "I H" (not a "K"). Silver work on both guns is identical. Birch ramrods with horn tips, one with worm, mount through beaded silver pipes and tailpipes. Pistols measure 15" overall. PROVENANCE: This fine pair of pistols was featured in MAN AT ARMS vol. 32 no. 6, 2010, as part of the "Roll of Honor". CONDITION: Very fine. Brass parts cleaned bright with engraving softened, are toning back to a golden mustard. Steel lock parts are silver gray patina over light pitting. Silver is excellent. Stocks have some minor repairs, most notably a repaired crack in front of lockplate, running up to bbl channel on one gun. Each gun has a small crack from sideplate to bbl. Otherwise a fine, solid pair of unusual pistols, most likely made for a naval officer. 4-49672 MGM275