A Rare Percussion Knife Pistol by Unwin & Rodgers. 6 ½” overall, 3 ½” German silver tapering octagonal 130 bore sighted barrel with Birmingham Proof Marks. German silver action, the sides faced with horn scales over brass fillets, hinged butt trap for ball, folding trigger, two folding knife blades both stamped ‘James Rodgers Sheffield’. The larger, single edged spear pointed with faint engraving ‘Self Protector’. The butt retaining the original concealed bullet mould and rammer. In its contemporary, possibly original, walnut case lined in red velvet, with accessories including small lacquered power flask, cap box and oil bottle, with gold embossed Unwin & Rogers label in the lid.
Circa 1850.
Very rare example in very good condition.
For other examples see Lewis Winant ‘Firearms Curiosa’ 1955, pp. 122-125, figs. 126-128
The Rodgers firm, one of the largest manufacturers of Bowie knives, was joined in 1828 by Philip Unwin. Combining their talents the first public notice of the new firm appeared in the Sheffield trade directory for 1828, with an advertisement reading, “Unwin and Rodgers, manufacturers of pen, pocket and desk knives, pearl sides, clasps, buckles, and in a great variety. 7 Charles Street.” Unwin had an idea for combining a pistol with a pocket knife, and he secured a patent for attaching the two weapons to each other. In the 1841 Sheffield trade directory, the firm advertised themselves as “manufacturers of spring knife cutlery, including lancets, scissor knives and pen machines, pistol knives, American and Indian hunting and self-defense knives.”