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Revolutionary War Pennsylvania Committee of Safety Inspected/ Secret Committee Purchased Danish Mode

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Revolutionary War Pennsylvania Committee of Safety Inspected/ Secret Committee Purchased Danish Mode
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This is an example of a Massive European Flintlock Cavalry Pistol that is with Pennsylvania Committee of Safety "V" view-mark stamped on the trigger guard finial. Established by the Continental Congress, the Secret Committee was responsible for the Clandestine acquisition of arms for the upcoming Revolution, and though not technically an intelligence agency, some of their activities, such as operating under false flags and raiding British and Loyalist stores, does place them among the first covert operatives in America. Consignor documents state that this pistol is one of 326 pairs of pistols purchased from the Dutch via the island of St. Eustatius by Robert Morris, Continental Congressman, merchant, and Chairman of the Secret Committee, and smuggled to Philadelphia on the brigantine ANDREW DORIA in 1776 to supply the Continental Army. Morris, a member of the Pennsylvania Delegation, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as well as a major bankroller of the Revolution, using his contacts to acquire needed supplies, giving Washington a 10,000GBP loan to pay his troops, and operating a virtual navy of privateers and mercenaries against the British. The consignor documents state the Dutch/Danish pistols were inspected by Ebenezar Cowell, Pennsylvania Committee of Safety appointee, who stamped the pistols with a "V" (initial for viewed) to indicate the pistol had been inspected. The pistol has a round, smooth bore, pin-fastened barrel with brass front sight blade. The lock has a pointed tail, detachable, fenced, iron pan and goose neck hammer. The pistol has a brass ramrod and end pipes, forend cap, side plate, trigger guard and strapped brass buttcap. The iron ramrod has a flared tip. The only visible markings on the pistol are the "V" stamped at the end of the trigger guard finial and the number "4" stamped on the top of the barrel and on the side plate below the rear screw.
BBL: 13 in
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 72 bore
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Good. The barrel and lock have an even, dark brown, patina. The surfaces of the barrel and lock are covered with light pitting. The brass furniture is in good condition with an attractive, un-polished, patina. The pins that secure the ramrod pipe are missing. The stock is in fair condition with a number of old, poorly executed plastic wood repairs. Revolutionary War firearms saw hard service and very few have survived to the present day. This is a rare and very desirable example of the European weapons imported to the Thirteen Colonies to arm the American forces in the American Revolution.