A Very Rare English Civil War Dog Lock Cavalry Holster Pistol. 19 ¾” overall, 12 ¾” two stage 22 bore barrel cut with double lines at the girdle, octagonal breech becoming polygonal & incised 'I' in front of the touch hole, London proof marks and indistinct barrelsmith's mark. Plain tang, flat type II English lock with stepped pointed tail & retained by three side nails, separate pan secured by an external screw, horizontally acting sear & dog catch engaging with the bellied ring neck cock. Figured full stock with raised apron around the tang, iron mounts comprising slender band around the ovoidal pommel, trigger guard secured by a nail through the tang & a screw through the pointed finial & engaging with the barrel tang, single fretted ramrod pipe with incised double lines, & later ramrod.
Circa 1645.
Very rare pistol in remarkably good condition, minor lock & stock repairs.
See 'The English Flintlock: its Origins and Development', The 20th Anniversary London Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue, 2003 by John S. Cooper, Brian C. Godwin and Michael G. Spencer, p.55 for description of type II lock and p75, figs. 90 & 91. London Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 2006 pages 65-74 and 2009 pages 74 -78 for similar pistols. Similar Littlecote type 5 pistol , ‘Littlecote The English Civil War Armoury’ by Richardson & Rimer page 333.
A pair of related pistols from the Luttrell Armoury, Dunster Castle, formerly in the Dr. Robert Rabett Collection. And exhibited The Craft of the Gunmaker item 5.