Looking for information on the maker of these boxlock pistols, TOWNSHEND
 

This pair of Boxlock Pistols have Birmingham proof marks. They can be easily dated to 1783 because of the silver hallmarks. Does anyone recognize the maker TOWNSHEND? He is not listed in the books I have.

Possibly Joseph Towns(h)end,Cork c.1796.....from Irish Gunmakers by Garrett(2008)

Thanks Nial, I'll check him out.

I have been thinking that the maker was probably one of the many who were working in Birmingham in the late 18th century. The silver furniture was obviously made there. It has the anchor hallmark (Birmingham), the letters CF (Charles Freeth), and the letter L (1783).

Date Letters of silver hallmarks in Birmingham, Page 184, Georgian Pistols, The Art and Craft of the Flintlock Pistol, 1715-1840, By Norman Dixon

Townshend
 

The same maker name from the right time. have a look at this link and see what you think. Have fun






http://weaponscollector.com/townshend_c1783.php

Townshend.
 

Perhaps that link was not very helpful as It looks like the pictures were actually of your pistol

Possibly manufactured by the trade in Birmingham and retailed by Towns(h)end in Cork.That would be a common enough route for pistols of this type.Town(s)hend might have been an ironmonger/hardware merchant who retailed guns and possibly did repairs and modifications.There were a few of these dealers in Cork.

That is an interesting idea Nial, I will investigate. Thanks!

You guessed it Tony PP, that is my very own wed site.

After looking around for a few hours I gave up and sent an email to the keepers of all things Towns(h)end, Colonel John Townsend & Dr. Richard Townsend.

http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~townsend/tree/home.php