BY EDMUND GIFFARD, LONDON, CIRCA 1685

Details

A 28-BORE FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOL
By Edmund Giffard, London, circa 1685
With barrel in three stages separated by mouldings, the breech section octagonal then fluted polygonal, the tang engraved with strawberry foliage, signed border engraved rounded lock engraved with strawberry foliage and a devil's head, moulded figured rootwood full stock (old repairs, fore-end replaced) with raised panel at the barrel tang, iron mounts engraved with further strawberry foliage, pierced silver side-plate finely cast and chased with scrollwork and monster-heads, cast and chased silver escutcheon engraved with owner's initial 'M' with coronet above, iron baluster ramrod-pipes, and wooden ramrod (some wear and surface pitting)
20½in. (52.1cm.)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

Edmund Giffard was free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1667, Gunsmith-in-Ordinary to King Charles II in 1670, and, in partnership with John Shaw, to Prince Rupert at Whitehall, circa 1675-80. The last documentary reference to him is in 1704

Giffard is represented by a fine pair of double-lock two-shot superimposed-load holster pistols in the armoury of the Duke of Buccleuch at Boughton House (illustrated in Tessa Murchoch (ed.), Boughton House, The English Versailles, p. 167, fig. 174)

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