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James Barbar DB Pistol
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70041
A Very Fine & Rare, Silver Mounted, DB Flintlock Pistol by James Barbar:
English 1780. 54 bore; (11.2 mm) 0.435 cal. The pistol is fitted with two 3.875 in., keyed, turn-off barrels numbered 2 & 3. The breaches are numbered to correspond and with Tower Private Proof marks (8, Fig. 1.). (The barrel numbering suggests that this pistol was one of a pair originally produced.) The overall length is 11.5 in. Weight is 835.89 g. Beautifully engraved box lock action having sliding pan cover on the right, and maker’s signature in rybands on the left: “Barbar London”. Ring necked cock and engraved trigger guard. Walnut stock with oval, silver wrist escutcheon and extensive silver wire inlay. Silver pommel cap with Birmingham proof marks and date letter “H” for 1780. Silversmith’s mark of Charles Freeth; “CF”.
English 1780. 54 bore; (11.2 mm) 0.435 cal. The pistol is fitted with two 3.875 in., keyed, turn-off barrels numbered 2 & 3. The breaches are numbered to correspond and with Tower Private Proof marks (8, Fig. 1.). (The barrel numbering suggests that this pistol was one of a pair originally produced.) The overall length is 11.5 in. Weight is 835.89 g. Beautifully engraved box lock action having sliding pan cover on the right, and maker’s signature in rybands on the left: “Barbar London”. Ring necked cock and engraved trigger guard. Walnut stock with oval, silver wrist escutcheon and extensive silver wire inlay. Silver pommel cap with Birmingham proof marks and date letter “H” for 1780. Silversmith’s mark of Charles Freeth; “CF”.
Fig. 1: Tower Private Proof Marks used between 1740-1810.
Condition: The condition is extremely fine. Precision crafted, heavy, and finely executed. Screw slots are in excellent condition. Both barrels with clean, smooth bores, and in excellent condition. The gun is fully functional. All silver wire inlay is well set and in excellent order with no repairs.
Historical:
Recognized experts like Keith Neal, David Back and Norman Dixon consider James Barbar to be the best gunmaker of his day (1,2,4). To quote Dixon, "Almost without exception, unrestored and original antique firearms made by James Barbar of London are of the highest quality"(2). A superb pair of pistols by James Barbar is on display at Windsor Castle (2). A Queen Anne pistol by Barbar also appeared in the Clay P. Bedford exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (3). James was apprenticed to his father Louis Barbar in October of 1714. Louis Barbar was a well known gunmaker who had immigrated to England from France in 1688. He was among many Huguenots (French Protestants) who sought refuge in England after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685. Louis was appointed Gentleman Armourer to King George I in 1717, and to George II in 1727. He died in 1741. James Barbar completed his apprenticeship in 1722 and was admitted as a freeman to the Company of Gunmakers. By 1726 James had established a successful shop on Portugal Street in Piccadilly. After his father`s death in 1741, James succeeded him as Gentleman Armourer to George II. He was elected Master of the Gunmakers` Company in 1742. James Barbar died in 1773. The book "Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790" contains a detailed chapter on James Barbar and many fine photographs of his weapons (1). Curator's Footnote: • This pistol has the option to fire the left barrel first, and then the right, or both barrels simultaneously.
Bibliography:
1. Neal, William Keith; Back, D.H.L. (1984) Great British Gunmakers: 1740-1790. James Barbar, Gunmaker, p. 102-105. Photographs 10, 48, 49, 50, 246-249, 281-285, 340-347 and 526.
2. Dixon, Norman (1971). Georgian Pistols, The Art and Craft of the Flintlock Pistol, 1715-1840. ISBN 13 [9780853680642] Arms & Armour Press. p. 32-37. Photographs 20-24.
3. Early Firearms of Great Britain and Ireland from the Collection of Clay P. Bedford, New York Graphic Society, Greenwich, Conn. (1971). Holster Pistol Number 26, Page 37 (Bedford #1528).
4. Hayward, J.F. (1945). English Flintlock Pistols from 1740-1760. p. 154.
5. Blackmore, H. (1986). A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 46.
6. Burgoyne, John W. (2002). The Queen Ann Pistol 1660-1780. ISBN [0-88855-015-4] p. 59. Fig 64 & 65 show double barreled pistols of this type dating from 1760-1783.
7. Heer, Eugene (1978). Der Neue Stockel; Vol 1, p. 53; Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH; Schwabisch Hall. James Barbar is recorded as working between 1714-1773. 8. Godwin, Brian; Evans, John (2008). The Cross Sceptres & Crown Mark p. 3. Research Press Library. To see the article click here.
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