antique arms, armour & militaria - Thomas Del Mar Ltd

603
A RARE 20 BORE FLINTLOCK PISTOL BY GRIFFIN & TOW,
LONDON CIRCA 1770
with swamped sighted barrel stamped ‘IG’ for Joseph
Griffinat the breech and with London proof marks (pitted),
signed rounded border-engraved lock (steel spring
missing), figured walnut full stock (fore-end cracked,
cracked ahead of the lock), and full brass mounts
comprising side-plate centring on a ‘Death’s head’ device
above the inscription ‘Or Glory’, vacant escutcheon
enclosed by martial trophies, spurred pommel with
Death’s head device en suite with the side-plate, triggerguard
with early acorn finial and engraved with a flower
on the bow, and a pair of ramrod-pipes (later ramrod)
34.5cm; 13Kin
The ‘Death’s Head’ device is the regimental badge of the
17th/21st Lancers, originally the 18th Dragoons in 1759,
and later the 17th Light Dragoons in 1769. In 1759
General John Hale, the colonel of the regiment, delivered
the news of the victory of Quebec and the death of Wolfe
to King George II. The regiment was given to the
messenger as a reward for the delivery of this news and
the badge was given as a tribute to the death of the
commander, General Wolfe.
An identical pistol, probably the pair to the present, is
illustrated in E. Griffin 1993, pp. 142, plate 10.
‡ £1100-1200
604
603
604
A PAIR OF 20 BORE FLINTLOCK PISTOLS SIGNED T.
BRUETON, LONDON, BIRMINGHAM PRIVATE PROOF
MARKS CIRCA 1770
with swamped barrels engraved with a pair of converging
lines drawn-out to a loop over the breeches, barrel tangs
engraved with a spray of foliage, signed rounded borderengraved
locks decorated with a spray of foliage on the
tails (one cock replaced), figured walnut full stocks (the
fore-ends cracked), carved with a raised scalloped
moulding about the tangs, steel mounts chiselled with
rococo ornament, including foliate side-plates, spurred
pommels decorated with a small scallop shell on the
caps, trigger-guards engraved with a scallop on the bows,
and vacant escutcheons (ramrods replaced, engraving
with light wear)
35.8cm; 45Bin
(2)
This maker is recorded in Birmingham at 93 High Street
1769-81 and Prospect Row 1775-81.
‡ £1000-1100
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