A Fine & Rare Rootwood Stocked Flintlock Holster Pistol by Gregory of London. 18” overall,10 ¾” three stage sighted barrel struck with London proof marks & barrelsmith’s mark of Nathan Gregory, tang & moulding at the rear of the breech grooved for sighting, rounded lock engraved with a border of beadwork, signed ‘Gregory in a ribbon in capitals & decorated with a foliate scroll on the tail, cock decorated en suite, moulded walnut rootwood full stock with characteristic swelling at the rear ramrod pipe & drop shaped apron around the barrel tang, cast & chased copper alloy mounts comprising pierced foliate scroll side plate with monster head terminal spewing further foliage, vacant foliate escutcheon surmounted by a moustachioed mask, spurred pommel with satyr's mask cap, trigger guard with tang extending back to the pommel with foliate finial, baluster ramrod pipes, later horn tipped ramrod with iron worm
Circa 1700
In very good condition, minor old repaired cracks towards the muzzle, iron parts with some old light pitting.
Nathan Gregory was apprenticed to Godfrey Taylor and turned over to Thomas West in 1670. He was made free of the London Gunmakers’ Company in 1677, proved arms for Ordnance at Birmingham between 1695 and 1699, and was Gunmaker to the East India Company between 1708 and 1712.
Provenance Professor David Weaver Collection.