A Cased Pair of Flintlock Overcoat Pistols by Mortimer & Son. 8½” overall, 4” sighted 40 bore octagonal barrels engraved ‘H.W. MORTIMER & SON, LONDON’ over ‘GUNMAKERS TO HIS MAJESTY’ along the top flat, London Proofs & ‘HM’ barrelsmith’s stamp, numbered 1303. Finely engraved tangs incorporating standing rear-sights, stepped, wheat ear border engraved flat locks finely engraved with sun burst behind the pan and signed ‘Mortimer & Son’, fitted with sliding safety that lock the pan covers, French ‘C’ scroll cocks decorated en-suite. Full stocked in walnut, cut with chequering at the grips. Steel trigger guards engraved ‘89 Fleet St’ on the bows with pineapple finials, horn tipped ramrods both with worms. In their original baize lined Mahogany case with leather covered three way powder flask, bullet mould, cleaning rod ,turn screw and two keys. the interior of the lid with ‘H.W. Mortimer & Son’ parchment label inside lid, the exterior fitted with flush ring carrying handle.
Circa 1808-11.
Very high quality pistols in good condition with much original finish.
Harvey Walklate Mortimer (1753-1819) was appointed Gunmaker to George III in 1783. He was at 89 Fleet Street between 1782 and 1799 and was Contractor to the East India Company from 1796 until 1806 in partnership with his son 1808-1811. He retired in 1811 and died in 1819.