Trombone pistol with brass barrel and lockplate

[corrado26]

Last week I got this pistol with a very nice brass barrel and a brass lockplate. Unfortunately it is not signed by its maker but the style of the barrel and the stock makes me think that it was made by CASSAIGNARD at Nantes. He is reported for the years 1774 to 1812.
corrado26

[fernando]

A rather interesting piece indeed, sir. No marks inside the lock plate or under the barrel ?

[corrado26]

I dismantled the pistol: No, not a single sign or mark, really nothing :confused:

[fernando]

They say that, when a piece is not put out in the market but made by direct order of a client that knows well the smith, no marks are needed. Could this be the case ? ...

[corrado26]

I think yes. The orderer tried in this case to minimize the costs, thats all.
corrado26

[fernando]

... But if you don't like it as it is, let me know; i don't mind keeping it myself ;) .

[NeilUK]

Yes, an interesting pistol. I don't know anything about Cassaignard but the style certainly looks French. I believe that officers in the East India Company's troops often saved the cost of proofing their new pistols by having the maker send them directly to India so that they did not have to have them proofed. These pistols could be evidence of a similar sort of situation.
Neil

[corrado26]

This type of pistol with its large muzzle has had certainly nothing to do with the Esat India Company. Cassaignard mainly produced these trombone pistoles for the use on bord of ships. For many a captain it was an impressiv tool against mutinous sailors.
corrado26

[Richard G]

I believe Nantes was the great slave-trading port of the French during that era.
Regards
Richard

[NeilUK]

I did not mean that this pistol was connected with the EIC. My comparison was with the owner saving money by not having his pistol proofed, as some EIC officers did.
Neil