Late 18th Century English Flintlock Boxlock Pocket Pistol In The Queen Anne Style With Silver Inlay and Butt Mask
With its round cannon barrel, bulbous walnut grip and silver wire decoration with a hallmarked silver grotesque buttmask this is definitely what is considered a Queen Anne type pocket pistol.
The steelwork is generally in good condition especially around the barrel, but there is some pitting on the left side of the boxlock.
It has a dark mottled aged patina.
The body has nice border engraving on both sides with "Palmer & Co" within a scroll on the left side and a rather unusual design on the right side that I've not actually seen before.
The mainspring is strong and the action is nice and crisp in half and full position.
I believe that the trigger guard should slide to engage a safety catch, but there is only a tiny amount of movement and it does not engage with the cock.
The underside of the barrel on the body has clear early Birmingham Proof Marks and the barrel itself is currently seized to the body.
The one piece walnut grip is beautiful with 100% of its silver (white metal) wire inlay remaining and a hallmarked grotesque buttmask.
The hallmarks are very faint and consist of the Lion and Anchor Mark on one side and the date stamp on the other side. This is very faint, but I think maybe an r for 1792.
There is also a Makers Stamp which is also tricky to identify, but could be CF for the renowned Charles Freeth.
In my research material there are a lot of Palmers, both in London and the Provinces, but I can find only one that refers to a Palmer & Co. This was one of the William Palmers who took Livery in 1772 and may have been the Engraver for such worthies as Nock, Egg, Manton and Wogdon (mentioned in Blackmores Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850 Page 153).
A handsome 18th Century English Pocket Pistol.
Barrel length (screw off section) 6cm, Overall length 21cm.
This antique pistol is considered obsolete and non functioning, and is sold as a collectable ornamental item. This product is available for purchase in the UK without a license.
