Early To Mid 18th Century French Flintlock Overcoat Pistol With Decorative Silver Mounts And Wire Inlay
A very attractive pistol with an octagonal to round rifled turn off canon barrel which has a gold (yellow metal) cartouche at the breech.
The stepped lock is finely engraved and is signed Le Lorain A Valance who is mentioned in J.F. Haywards book "The Art of the Gunmaker Volume 2" Page 53, as one of the "few makers outside Paris worthy of mention" and "succeeded in getting a number of important commissions from members of the nobility".
The silver (white metal) trigger guard is finely engraved with a cockerel, fleur de lis and a green man looking face and the large silver (white metal) side plate is set with an extensive stand of arms decoration.
There is also silver (white metal) wire inlay around the butt and on the base is a Greek looking bust in profile.
The mainspring is strong and the action is smooth and crisp in both half and full position.
There is a neat little line running through the base of the forestock. It is quite difficult to spot, but I wonder if a good repair has been carried out at some point in the past?
The only other point worth mentioning is that the turn off barrel is currently seized and as is my policy I haven't tried to force it.
An early and beautiful flintlock pistol worthy of further investigation.
Barrel length 11cm (turn off section 7.5cm) Overall 20cm.
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
