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Naval Officer's Dress Pistols
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70042
A Fine & Rare Pair of Flintlock, Naval Officer’s Dress Pistols:
English ca. 1813. 30 Bore (13.75 mm); 0.535 cal. The pistols, each with 9 in. brass barrels of octagonal section, are signed London in Old English Script on the top flat near the breach. Birmingham proof marks on the sides and steel fore-sights set into a dovetail slot. The breach section with rope bezel and wheat leaf engraving. Floral engraved steel tangs incorporating a notched back sight. Steel lock plates signed Avery & Co. (1,2 ) with running wheat-leaf border on the beveled section, small floral engravings and trophy of instruments. Blued and engraved safety bolts. Anti-friction roller frizzens, with running wheat leaf borders. Engraved hammers with additional running wheat-leaf borders en suite. Walnut half stocks with checkered grips featuring a brass shield shaped escutcheon with the owner’s crest of a deer head engraving. The deer head engraving (stag) on the wrist escutcheon is a symbol of strength and fortitude and stands for "one who will not fight unless provoked." Brass mounts with pommel caps cast in high relief with a lion’s head. The lion's heads featured here are a representation of the English Rampant Lion (Rampant Guardant) which traditionally symbolizes courage, nobility, valour and strength. Engraved trigger guards have a running wheat-leaf border and a centralized trophy of instruments. Brass fore-end caps and barrel bolt escutcheons. Blued, and engraved steel screws. Brass tipped wooden ramrods, one with a concealed ball extractor. Condition: Beautiful condition. Extremely fine throughout. All original finish. Crisp mechanics. Clean, smooth bores. Safety’s at half cock. Screw slots are new and unused. Nicely stamped proof marks. The extremely fine engraving and extensive use of wheat-leaf borders is indicative of a very finely executed weapon. This feature is normally reserved for items of very high quality, and indicates possible membership to the London trade guilds of the period, e.g. the engravers guild. Discussion:
From about 1751 (?), the ordnance proof house which was situated on Tower Wharf, close to the Tower of London started proofing privately made civilian firearms. To differentiate between the ordnance and civilian markings, the mark chosen for the civilian or “private proof” was the crossed scepters and crown struck twice, one mark above the other, but without the Royal cipher mark. This marking was used ca. 1740-1810 (3). To obtain such a proof mark, firearm barrels would have to withstand, and emerge unscathed from a test charge of up to 2.5 X the normal powder load.
In 1813 the Proof House of the Birmingham Proof Company was established by an act of parliament and built on Banbury Street. It was set up to proof all privately made firearms (that is non ordnance firearms) and still operates on the same site today (3). The proof marks used from 1813 until 1904 were the crossed scepters and crown mark, incorporating the letters BPC (Birmingham Proof Company), together with the crossed scepters and crown over a “V” (View mark) (3, Fig. 1).
A Fine & Rare Pair of Flintlock, Naval Officer’s Dress Pistols:
English ca. 1813. 30 Bore (13.75 mm); 0.535 cal. The pistols, each with 9 in. brass barrels of octagonal section, are signed London in Old English Script on the top flat near the breach. Birmingham proof marks on the sides and steel fore-sights set into a dovetail slot. The breach section with rope bezel and wheat leaf engraving. Floral engraved steel tangs incorporating a notched back sight. Steel lock plates signed Avery & Co. (1,2 ) with running wheat-leaf border on the beveled section, small floral engravings and trophy of instruments. Blued and engraved safety bolts. Anti-friction roller frizzens, with running wheat leaf borders. Engraved hammers with additional running wheat-leaf borders en suite. Walnut half stocks with checkered grips featuring a brass shield shaped escutcheon with the owner’s crest of a deer head engraving. The deer head engraving (stag) on the wrist escutcheon is a symbol of strength and fortitude and stands for "one who will not fight unless provoked." Brass mounts with pommel caps cast in high relief with a lion’s head. The lion's heads featured here are a representation of the English Rampant Lion (Rampant Guardant) which traditionally symbolizes courage, nobility, valour and strength. Engraved trigger guards have a running wheat-leaf border and a centralized trophy of instruments. Brass fore-end caps and barrel bolt escutcheons. Blued, and engraved steel screws. Brass tipped wooden ramrods, one with a concealed ball extractor. Condition: Beautiful condition. Extremely fine throughout. All original finish. Crisp mechanics. Clean, smooth bores. Safety’s at half cock. Screw slots are new and unused. Nicely stamped proof marks. The extremely fine engraving and extensive use of wheat-leaf borders is indicative of a very finely executed weapon. This feature is normally reserved for items of very high quality, and indicates possible membership to the London trade guilds of the period, e.g. the engravers guild. Discussion:
From about 1751 (?), the ordnance proof house which was situated on Tower Wharf, close to the Tower of London started proofing privately made civilian firearms. To differentiate between the ordnance and civilian markings, the mark chosen for the civilian or “private proof” was the crossed scepters and crown struck twice, one mark above the other, but without the Royal cipher mark. This marking was used ca. 1740-1810 (3). To obtain such a proof mark, firearm barrels would have to withstand, and emerge unscathed from a test charge of up to 2.5 X the normal powder load.
In 1813 the Proof House of the Birmingham Proof Company was established by an act of parliament and built on Banbury Street. It was set up to proof all privately made firearms (that is non ordnance firearms) and still operates on the same site today (3). The proof marks used from 1813 until 1904 were the crossed scepters and crown mark, incorporating the letters BPC (Birmingham Proof Company), together with the crossed scepters and crown over a “V” (View mark) (3, Fig. 1).
Fig. 1: Birmingham Proof Company marks used after 1813.
During the last quarter of the 18th century, and the 1st quarter of the 19th century, Avery & Co. sold fine firearms at No. 63 New Bond Street, London in a location known as the “Gun and Pistol Depot.” Although not a well known gunmaker, Joseph Avery was believed to have produced his own locks. As a jeweler by training, his lock mechanisms are of the highest quality. He assembled firearms from the stock of other firearms manufactures who sold their wares on the premises, such as Joseph Manton, John Manton & Son, Henry Nock, Purdey, Thomas Manton & Co. and Mortimer. He may also have custom ordered items from the many sub-contractors available to him in the gun maker’s trade. He eventually moved to 53 New Bond Street (1827-34) and set up shop as a Gold & Silversmith jeweler, and still retailed weapons from his storefront.
Bibliography:
1. Blackmore, H. (1986). A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 44. 2. Joseph Avery is listed in Der Neue Stockel with a date of 1840 at 53 New Bond Street, London. This could be an error since he is know to have occupied these premises from 1827-34. It does not mention his tenure at 63 New Bond Street. See Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockl , Vol 1, p. 38. 3. Godwin, Brian; Evans, John (2008) The Cross Sceptres & Crown Mark p. 3. Research Press Library. To see the article click here. 4. Joseph Avery's trade card is reproduced here by permission from the British Museum.
Bibliography:
1. Blackmore, H. (1986). A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 44. 2. Joseph Avery is listed in Der Neue Stockel with a date of 1840 at 53 New Bond Street, London. This could be an error since he is know to have occupied these premises from 1827-34. It does not mention his tenure at 63 New Bond Street. See Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockl , Vol 1, p. 38. 3. Godwin, Brian; Evans, John (2008) The Cross Sceptres & Crown Mark p. 3. Research Press Library. To see the article click here. 4. Joseph Avery's trade card is reproduced here by permission from the British Museum.
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