Flintlock pistol for ID

fernando · 8th January 2019, 04:52 PM

A friend of a friend acquired this pistol the other day in a local (USA) auction.
I already had the opinion of someone who gave me a general idea of what it is, but have promised to widen the query to a more vast audience, in case some of you guys are familiar with it, or have even seen any example close to it.
The hint was that it would be of French influence, perhaps a version made by a German smith ?
Thank you in advance.

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fernando · 8th January 2019, 04:53 PM

A couple more ...

corrado26 · 8th January 2019, 05:25 PM

I think this is a German pistol made around 1750/70. The backward curl at the trigger, the form of the sideplate and the pronounced butt are typical. The pistol shows no signature of the gunsmith what could be a sign that the maker has been working at the court of a more or less highly ranked noble man. In this case a signature was avoidable because the orderer knew who made the pistol.
corrado26

fernando · 9th January 2019, 11:52 AM

Good shot Udo; thank you so much. Your points look consistent with my previous information, namely age and pronounced butt. To remind however that, the back curled trigger also appears in XVIII century guns of other provenances. I have Portuguese ans Spanish with such detail.
Thanks again.

fernando · 9th January 2019, 11:53 AM

No more opinions, Gentlemen ?

Pukka Bundook · 9th January 2019, 04:49 PM

No expert here, but I think Corrado has nailed it.
It appears Germanic to me, and from the period as Corrado says.
What makes me say this, is the un-engraved brass furniture. There was a period in the mid and later 18th C where German arms were largely not engraved, although the castings were ideally suited to such decoration.
I'd also say the relief carving also appears Germanic, as does the muzzle work.
A very nice pistol!

R.

8th January 2019, 04:52 PM	#1
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Flintlock pistol for ID A friend of a friend acquired this pistol the other day in a local (USA) auction. I already had the opinion of someone who gave me a general idea of what it is, but have promised to widen the query to a more vast audience, in case some of you guys are familiar with it, or have even seen any example close to it. The hint was that it would be of French influence, perhaps a version made by a German smith ? Thank you in advance. . Attached Images

8th January 2019, 04:53 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	A couple more ... Attached Images

8th January 2019, 05:25 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,167	I think this is a German pistol made around 1750/70. The backward curl at the trigger, the form of the sideplate and the pronounced butt are typical. The pistol shows no signature of the gunsmith what could be a sign that the maker has been working at the court of a more or less highly ranked noble man. In this case a signature was avoidable because the orderer knew who made the pistol. corrado26

9th January 2019, 11:52 AM	#4
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Good shot Udo; thank you so much. Your points look consistent with my previous information, namely age and pronounced butt. To remind however that, the back curled trigger also appears in XVIII century guns of other provenances. I have Portuguese ans Spanish with such detail. Thanks again.

9th January 2019, 11:53 AM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	No more opinions, Gentlemen ?

9th January 2019, 04:49 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	No expert here, but I think Corrado has nailed it. It appears Germanic to me, and from the period as Corrado says. What makes me say this, is the un-engraved brass furniture. There was a period in the mid and later 18th C where German arms were largely not engraved, although the castings were ideally suited to such decoration. I'd also say the relief carving also appears Germanic, as does the muzzle work. A very nice pistol! R.