TJ Mortimer O/U Flintlock Pistols

T.J. Mortimer O/U Flintlock Pistols

[Text discription below.]

70050

A Beautiful Pair of O/U Flintlock Pocket Pistols Retailed by T.J. Mortimer:

English ca. 1820.   90 Bore (9.45 mm) (0.372 cal.).  A fine, petite pair of pocket pistols with 4.5 cm turnoff barrels numbered 0-1 and 2-3.  The breaches are numbered to correspond.  The lower barrels each incorporating a spring bayonet, held and released by the trigger-guard.  Sliding safety's at half-cock, which have the deluxe feature of also locking the steels.  Beautiful engraved box-lock mechanism.  Signature in an oval on the left:  "Mortimer St. James Street," and on the right: "London."  Wheat-leaf engraved muzzles, and single wheat-leaf engraved cocks en suite .  Tap-action bolsters engraved with a star burst wheat-leaf pattern in high relief.  Engraved screw heads.  Nicely figured, dense, slender, English walnut stocks with silver wrist escutcheon.  The latter with an unidentified family crest.  Birmingham Proof marks stamped on the left side of the barrels (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1  Birmingham Proof Marks Used After 1813.

Historical:

"Mortimer St. James Street" refers to Thomas Jackson "2" Mortimer.  Thomas Jackson "2" Mortimer was apprenticed to his father, Thomas "1" Mortimer in 1795.  He was made free of the Farriers Co. in 1807, and joined his father as T. Mortimer & Son.  He opened his own business as a gunmaker at 21 St. James Street from 1818-21.  He was at 38 St. James Street from 1822-24, and at 34 St. James Street from 1824-39.  He was Gunsmith in Ordinary to King George IV in 1822.  He died in 1833 (1,2,3).

Condition:

The condition is very fine.  All bores are smooth and clean.  Fully functional.  Strong mainspring pressures.  Screw slots are excellent.  Very attractive and well executed engravings.  Bayonets operate flawlessly.   A very desirable and intriguing pair of Mortimer O/U pocket pistols incorporating diminutive spring bayonets.

Provenance:

     Bonham's Knightsbridge; 30 November 2016, Lot: 388.
     "The Dr. T.J. Mortimer Collection"

 Bibliography:

1. Blackmore, H. (1986) A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850; p. 146. 

2. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockl; Vol 2; p. 834. Journal Verlag Schwend. 

3. Munson, H. Lee (1992) The Mortimer Gunmakers 1753-1923.  Andrew Mowbray, Inc. London ISBN [0-917218-52-5] p. 11.