DATED 1630

Details

An Extremely Rare 56-Bore English Snap-lock Pistol
Dated 1630
With swamped octagonal barrel retaining very faint traces of gilding, with a ring at the muzzle, a pronounced ramp at the rear of the dated breech, and floral and foliate decoration on a punched ground throughout its length, engraved iron tang, flat brass lock retained by three side-nails and with iron dog catch (for the half-cock position) and iron buffer, the tail of the plate in the form of a monster-head, the full cock position held by the sear passing through the plate and engaging the tail of the cock, full stock (cracks and repairs) inlaid with scrollwork in brass wire inhabited by small brass stars, engraved brass ramrod-pipe and fore-end cap, later pierced brass trigger working on a pin above the tail of the the lock-plate, later pierced brass pommel, iron belt hook, and later iron ramrod (some pitting)
12¼in. (31.1cm.)

Literature

Ian Eaves,'Some Notes on the Pistol in early 17th Century England', J.A.A.S., vol. VI, no. 11 (September 1970), p. 328
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1540-1740, pp. 79-82, plates 15a-e, and 16a, b

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

The only closely similar pistols recorded are a pair of snaphaunces in the Wrangel Armoury at Skokloster Castle, Sweden, which were manufactured some twenty years earlier. The Skokloster pair is described and illustrated in Ian Eaves, loc. cit., pp. 327-8, plate LXXVI

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