A Rare Dated East India Company Short Cavalry Pistol. 15 ¾” overall, 9 ¼” round barrel carbine bore with London proofs, ‘EIC’ bail mark & ‘Wilson 1778’. Flat lock with EIC bail mark & ‘1778’ on the tail. Signed ‘Wilson’ under the bridal-less pan, ring neck cock, walnut full stock, regulation brass furniture comprising short eared butt cap ‘S’ shaped side plate & trigger guard with spear pointed finial, horn tipped wooded ramrod.
Dated 1778.
In very good condition, clear engraving, early dated East India Company pistols do not turn up very often. This pattern introduced in 1778 and in service till about 1807.
See, ‘Smallarms of the East India Company 1600-1856’ Voll. II page 284-87. D.F.Harding