{"product_id":"tower-gr-1801-16-pattern-short-sea-service-flintlock-pistol","title":"Tower GR 1801\/16 Pattern Short Sea Service Flintlock Pistol","description":"\u003ch3\u003eEarly 19th Century English Royal Navy Short Sea Service Flintlock Pistol Known As The 1801\/16 Pattern\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Royal Navy hung on to the 12\" barrelled Service pistol longer than the Army, but following the Napoleonic War there was time to reassess the situation and it was decided that a shorter barrel would be less cumbersome and the potential loss of accuracy would be minimal at the close range combat situations that Naval personnel would find themselves involved in, such as boarding or repelling boarders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThus the \"Short Sea Service Pistol\" was born.  Some were manufactured as a new type of flintlock pistol with the 9\" barrel, but Board of Ordnance ordered the reduction of the old 12\" barrel Long Sea Service and the majority of 9\" Sea Service pistols are these cut down longer pieces.  All are otherwise known as the 1801\/16 Pattern Sea Service pistol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork on this piece has a very dark patina and I have resisted the urge to clean it up as I believe that it has taken a long time to get this colouration, dirty though it seems.  I will leave that decision to its new owner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock is stamped at the tail with \"Tower\" and beneath the pan is the Crowned GR and Crowned Broad Arrow stamp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mainspring is smooth but not particularly strong and the action is crisp in both half and full positions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe forward pull after the trigger has been pulled is a \"little off\" and the tumbler is a little loose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe frizen behaves exactly as it should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt still retains its belt hook and original steel ramrod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel carries the correct Ordnance Proof Marks and beneath the grime seems to be in pretty good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regulation brasswork has the same aged colouration and also looks to be in good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe walnut stock has a lovely tactile feel with smoothed edges around the carved sections, but apart from a few dinks and minor damage around the pins it is in good condition with no splits or cracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have been unable to find any Store or Inspection Stamps though.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis might not be a Quarterdeck example of this popular Service pistol, but my thoughts are that it has been a bit of a \"sleeper\" languishing below decks for some time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBarrel length 23cm, Overall length 41.5cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis antique pistol is considered obsolete and non fu\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003enctioning, and is sold as a collectable ornamental item. This product is available for purchase in the UK without a license\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Flintlock \u0026 Black Powder","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54024596750664,"sku":"478","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0808\/6962\/2088\/files\/478.1.jpg?v=1788877775","url":"https:\/\/flintlockblackpowder.co.uk\/products\/tower-gr-1801-16-pattern-short-sea-service-flintlock-pistol","provider":"Flintlock \u0026 Black Powder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}