BY HENRY HADLEY, LONDON, CIRCA 1760
Details
An Unusual 12-Bore Flintlock Turn-Off Pistol
By Henry Hadley, London, circa 1760
With three-stage cannon barrel, the breech engraved with a band of ancanthus foliage at the rear and inscribed 'London', engraved grooved tang, signed border engraved lock with safety-catch, figured walnut butt carved with a shell in relief behind the barrel tang, and brass mounts comprising trophy of arms side-plate, engraved trigger-guard with acorn finial, vacant escutcheon with grotesque mask above and shell beneath, and grotesque mask butt-cap, London proof marks and Foreigner's mark
12¼in. (31.1cm.)
Turn-off pistols of such heavy bore were rarely made. In this case the Irish provenance probably explains this unusual feature.
Henry Hadley is first recorded in 1735 and he died in 1773. Although capable of the very finest quality work, he was never free of the London Gunmakers' Company
By Henry Hadley, London, circa 1760
With three-stage cannon barrel, the breech engraved with a band of ancanthus foliage at the rear and inscribed 'London', engraved grooved tang, signed border engraved lock with safety-catch, figured walnut butt carved with a shell in relief behind the barrel tang, and brass mounts comprising trophy of arms side-plate, engraved trigger-guard with acorn finial, vacant escutcheon with grotesque mask above and shell beneath, and grotesque mask butt-cap, London proof marks and Foreigner's mark
12¼in. (31.1cm.)
Turn-off pistols of such heavy bore were rarely made. In this case the Irish provenance probably explains this unusual feature.
Henry Hadley is first recorded in 1735 and he died in 1773. Although capable of the very finest quality work, he was never free of the London Gunmakers' Company
Provenance
The Earls of Caledon