Lot Essay
Please note that this pistol is a Section 5 prohibited firearm.
The Martin 'Mitrailleuse' pistol pre-dated the famous Lancaster design for four-barrelled pistols by around a year (Patent No. 1531 of 14 April 1880). Initially produced by Thomas Bland & Sons, subsequent contracts were awarded to Thomas Turner and The Braendlin Armoury Co. The Martin pistol failed to achieve the commercial success enjoyed by the superior Lancaster design and it is thought total production amounted to a few hundred examples at most with less than 20 extant pistols having been traced to date.
The recipient of the pistol, Colonel James D. Dundas of the King's Royal Rifle Corps was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 1st October 1881.
The Martin 'Mitrailleuse' pistol pre-dated the famous Lancaster design for four-barrelled pistols by around a year (Patent No. 1531 of 14 April 1880). Initially produced by Thomas Bland & Sons, subsequent contracts were awarded to Thomas Turner and The Braendlin Armoury Co. The Martin pistol failed to achieve the commercial success enjoyed by the superior Lancaster design and it is thought total production amounted to a few hundred examples at most with less than 20 extant pistols having been traced to date.
The recipient of the pistol, Colonel James D. Dundas of the King's Royal Rifle Corps was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 1st October 1881.