BY JOSEPH GRIFFIN, LONDON, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1764

Details

A fine 26-Bore Royal Silver-Mounted Flintlock Holster Pistol With Italian Barrel
By Joseph Griffin, London, London silver hallmarks for 1764
With swamped octagonal sighted barrel (minor surface pitting) with a raised band at the muzzle and breech, cut throughout its length with longitudinal flutes and raised ribs, and with stamped signature 'Lazarino Cominazo (sic)' at the breech, shaped tang finely engraved with rococo ornament on a matted ground, signed flat bevelled lock finely engraved en suite and with large engraved safety-catch, figured walnut full stock carved in relief with shells at the barrel tang, silver mounts of unusually fine quality cast and chased in relief with rococo designs heightened with engraving, pierced side-plate, spurred pommel with grotesque mask cap, trigger-guard with large finial formed as a bouquet of flowers, large escutcheon surmounted by a ducal coronet, encircled by the Order of the Garter, and engraved with the crest of a royal duke, cast and chased silver ramrod-pipes, and original horn-tipped bone ramrod with worm (slight wear to lock and mounts), silver maker's mark of John King
15¼in. (38.8cm.)

Literature

W. Keith Neal, Collecting Duelling Pistols, p. 7, plates 1, 2
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, p. 106, plates 351-354
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, pp. 107-108, plates 45 a-d

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

According to Neal and Back (Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes) the crest is that of Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn (1745-1790), grandson of King George II and brother of King George III, who was nominated Privy Councillor and Knight of the Garter in 1767. Keith Neal considered this pistol (originally one of a pair) to be one of the very first pistols designed for duelling
The pistol is sold with two handwritten letters, one of them (dated 15 March 1947) stating that the pistol was admired by 'Sir William Gordon and his famous brother the General...' who '...would never handle it. You remember he always went into action with only a "swagger" cane'
Strathearn led an irregular life, causing him to be avoided by the King's friends. Although described as 'coarse and brutal', he was not without taste, and is recorded as having been fond of books and music

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