BY ROBERT WOGDON, LONDON, CIRCA 1775-80

Details

An Unusual Pair Of .577 D.B. Flintlock Pistols
By Robert Wogdon, London, circa 1775-80
With octagonal sighted barrels signed on the breech, engraved with a band of beadwork at the rear, and retained by a screw through the fore-end, the left barrels numbered respectively '1' and '2', each right barrel fitted with a short hinged hand-operated bayonet, grooved tangs engraved with foliage and incorporating the back-sight, signed flat bevelled locks each with safety-catch and stepped tail (two cocks replaced), figured walnut half-stocks (some bruising and repairs), swelling flat-sided chequered butts each cut to receive an attachable shoulder-stock, engraved iron trigger-guards each with acorn finial and spur finger-rest, faceted ramrod-pipes, one original ramrod with worm and powder-measure (the other ramrod replaced), and oval silver escutcheons each engraved 'Pitfour' (some wear and some minor pitting), London proof marks
13in. (33cm.) (2)

Provenance

Acquired from Pitfour, the Ferguson family home in Scotland, together with a Ferguson rifle (lot 69 in the sale of 9 November 2000), and a wax bust, probably in the 1960s. A handwritten note signed by the late owner and sold with the pistols confirms their provenance

Literature

1776, exhibition catalogue, p. 159

Exhibited

1776, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, 14 April - 2 October 1976, cat. no. 405 (one pistol)

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

According to the catalogue of the exhibition, these well-used pistols were probably carried by Captain Patrick Ferguson (1744-80), inventor of the Ferguson rifle, on campaigns, as they were made to accept balls of regulation size. It seems more likely, however, that they belonged to his elder brother James ("Pit") Ferguson (1735-1820), who became laird of Pitfour on their father's death in 1777, and who was MP for Banffshire, 1789-90, and for Aberdeenshire, 1790-1820

More from FINE ANTIQUE FIREARMS FROM THE W KEITH NEAL COLLECTION

View All