.png)
Tatham & Egg O/U Flintlock Pistol
[Text discription below.]
.png)
70025
Fine Condition O/U Flintlock Pistol by Tatham & Egg, Once Belonging To The Duke Of York:
English ca. 1811. SN 1158. 30 Bore (13.75 mm) (0.531 cal). The barrel group consists of two 4 3/4 in. octagonal barrels fused together. Each with English browned twist pattern, and each marked with a recessed platinum poincon: “Tatham & Egg” as well as with platinum vents. The case hardened, patent breeches have rope pattern engraving and two platinum lines. The top barrel has an embedded silver foresight. The tang incorporates a standing rear sight, and has very fine, classic, English armorial engravings. The pistol is fitted with late style locks with cocks in the French taste and waterproof, gold lined pans. Antifriction roller frizzens and blued, bolted safety’s. Locks are engraved Tatham & Egg under the pans. The pistol is fitted with a single trigger which fires the top barrel first, and the bottom on the second pull. Nicely figured English, walnut stock has a checkered, slightly swelling grip with steel mounts. The trigger guard has armorial engravings on the bow with the serial number 1158 in a central oval. The shaped grip cap has fabulous engraving, and is marked with rack number “36.” At the top of the grip is an inlaid, gold wrist escutcheon with the motto: “Hon Soit Qui Mal Pense” in a ryband, surrounding a lion passant, all surmounted by a sovereign’s crown. This is the English marking for a prince of royal blood, of the House of Hanover. The inscription is also used by Knights of the Garder (3). The motto is actually French and roughly translates as: “May he be shamed who thinks badly of it.” The steel ramrod is of typical Egg construction with engraved tip detail, which mounts on the left side through a single ferrule. The ferrule has a tension spring for holding the ramrod which is adjustable by screw head on the right side of the barrel group. Historical: “Tatham & Egg” refers to the partnership between English gunmakers Henry Tatham and Joseph Egg, lasting between 1801-1814. They were listed as Gunmakers & Sword cutlers to King George III, located at 37 Charring Cross, London (1,2). Henry Tatham and Joseph Egg were each superb gunsmiths by themselves. Anyone who has inspected a firearm signed by Henry Tatham or Joseph Egg normally leaves with a lasting first impression, and then a standard, by which most other firearms are then compared to. It is no understatement that the partnership produced firearms of extremely fine quality with exquisite attention to detail.
Condition: Excellent. The gun appears to be in un-fired condition, with bright shiny bores, well maintained, and in near new condition. Barrels retain well over 95 % of their original English browning. Locks retain over 80 % of their original case hardening color. Screw slots are excellent and appear to be unused. Very strong mainspring pressure on the left and right locks. Bolted safety’s at half-cock. Very few marks on the frizzens, presumably from dry firing. Mechanics are perfect. A highly desirable and historically significant Tatham & Egg pistol with excellent provenance.
Curator's Footnotes: • This pistol demonstrates the use of a single trigger to activate two lock mechanisms. • The pistol appears to be from the personal gunroom of the Duke of York.
Bibliography:
1. Blackmore, Howard (1986). A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 188.
2. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel; Vol 1, p. 335. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH; Schwabisch Hall.
3. Please note the description of the wrist escutcheon engraving. “Hon Soit Qui Mal Pense” is the motto used by Knights of the Garter.
Fine Condition O/U Flintlock Pistol by Tatham & Egg, Once Belonging To The Duke Of York:
English ca. 1811. SN 1158. 30 Bore (13.75 mm) (0.531 cal). The barrel group consists of two 4 3/4 in. octagonal barrels fused together. Each with English browned twist pattern, and each marked with a recessed platinum poincon: “Tatham & Egg” as well as with platinum vents. The case hardened, patent breeches have rope pattern engraving and two platinum lines. The top barrel has an embedded silver foresight. The tang incorporates a standing rear sight, and has very fine, classic, English armorial engravings. The pistol is fitted with late style locks with cocks in the French taste and waterproof, gold lined pans. Antifriction roller frizzens and blued, bolted safety’s. Locks are engraved Tatham & Egg under the pans. The pistol is fitted with a single trigger which fires the top barrel first, and the bottom on the second pull. Nicely figured English, walnut stock has a checkered, slightly swelling grip with steel mounts. The trigger guard has armorial engravings on the bow with the serial number 1158 in a central oval. The shaped grip cap has fabulous engraving, and is marked with rack number “36.” At the top of the grip is an inlaid, gold wrist escutcheon with the motto: “Hon Soit Qui Mal Pense” in a ryband, surrounding a lion passant, all surmounted by a sovereign’s crown. This is the English marking for a prince of royal blood, of the House of Hanover. The inscription is also used by Knights of the Garder (3). The motto is actually French and roughly translates as: “May he be shamed who thinks badly of it.” The steel ramrod is of typical Egg construction with engraved tip detail, which mounts on the left side through a single ferrule. The ferrule has a tension spring for holding the ramrod which is adjustable by screw head on the right side of the barrel group. Historical: “Tatham & Egg” refers to the partnership between English gunmakers Henry Tatham and Joseph Egg, lasting between 1801-1814. They were listed as Gunmakers & Sword cutlers to King George III, located at 37 Charring Cross, London (1,2). Henry Tatham and Joseph Egg were each superb gunsmiths by themselves. Anyone who has inspected a firearm signed by Henry Tatham or Joseph Egg normally leaves with a lasting first impression, and then a standard, by which most other firearms are then compared to. It is no understatement that the partnership produced firearms of extremely fine quality with exquisite attention to detail.
Condition: Excellent. The gun appears to be in un-fired condition, with bright shiny bores, well maintained, and in near new condition. Barrels retain well over 95 % of their original English browning. Locks retain over 80 % of their original case hardening color. Screw slots are excellent and appear to be unused. Very strong mainspring pressure on the left and right locks. Bolted safety’s at half-cock. Very few marks on the frizzens, presumably from dry firing. Mechanics are perfect. A highly desirable and historically significant Tatham & Egg pistol with excellent provenance.
Curator's Footnotes: • This pistol demonstrates the use of a single trigger to activate two lock mechanisms. • The pistol appears to be from the personal gunroom of the Duke of York.
Bibliography:
1. Blackmore, Howard (1986). A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 188.
2. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel; Vol 1, p. 335. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH; Schwabisch Hall.
3. Please note the description of the wrist escutcheon engraving. “Hon Soit Qui Mal Pense” is the motto used by Knights of the Garter.
.png)
Fig. 1: Frederick Agustus; Duke of York & Albany (1763-1827)
.png)