Lot 255
255
A RARE SILVER-MOUNTED D.B. FLINTLOCK TURN-OVER PISTOL with sighted barrels chiselled with foliage on each breech and engraved with scrollwork, the top barrel signed, the fore-sights framed in acanthus foliage (refreshed), foliate engraved tang retained by two screws, signed border engraved rounded back-action lock, moulded figured walnut butt carved with foliage around the barrel tang, cast and chased silver dragonesque side-plate, silver foliate escutcheon retaining traces of a coat-of-arms and with grotesque mask above, and silver pommel with engraved spurs and grotesque mask cap, engraved iron trigger-guard acting as the locking catch for the barrels (locking mechanism inoperative), and original iron-mounted ramrod retained by a single pipe (some wear and surface pitting, mainspring replaced), by Lewis Barbar, London, London proof marks, circa 1715

Details
A RARE SILVER-MOUNTED D.B. FLINTLOCK TURN-OVER PISTOL with sighted barrels chiselled with foliage on each breech and engraved with scrollwork, the top barrel signed, the fore-sights framed in acanthus foliage (refreshed), foliate engraved tang retained by two screws, signed border engraved rounded back-action lock, moulded figured walnut butt carved with foliage around the barrel tang, cast and chased silver dragonesque side-plate, silver foliate escutcheon retaining traces of a coat-of-arms and with grotesque mask above, and silver pommel with engraved spurs and grotesque mask cap, engraved iron trigger-guard acting as the locking catch for the barrels (locking mechanism inoperative), and original iron-mounted ramrod retained by a single pipe (some wear and surface pitting, mainspring replaced), by Lewis Barbar, London, London proof marks, circa 1715
18½in.
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1540-1740, plates 119a-b

Lot Essay

Lewis Barbar, a protestant, was born at Essendun in Poitou, France, and came to this country in about 1688. Naturalised in 1700, he was elected to the gunmakers' company in 1704, and became master in 1708. He was also appointed Gentleman Armourer to King George I, and subsequently to George III in 1727. He died in 1741
Today the largest group of firearms by Lewis Barbar is preserved in the Armoury of the Duke of Buccleuch at Boughton house. They were made to the order of John, 2nd Duke of Montagu (1709-49), who was Master General of Ordnance from 1740 to 1749. The accounts at Boughton record payments to Barbar which include '#150 for 200 Muskets', and a letter of 7 June 1718 to the 2nd Duke of Montagu from his vicar mentions that Barbar was responsible for the display of the firearms at Boughton at that date

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