A Pair of Flintlock Officer's Pistols by Prosser, Charing Cross, London. 15 ½” overall, 9” sighted 16 bore barrels each engraved 'CHARING CROSS, LONDON' along the sighting flat & engraved with a band of chevron ornament at the breech, London Proofs. Border engraved tangs each incorporating a back sight & decorated with a Britannia shield & foliage, border engraved flat bevelled locks signed ‘Prosser’ each decorated with a starburst behind the pan & with safety catch, roller & engraved cock. Figured full stocks each with flattened butt cut with characteristic chequering with a cross in the centre of each diamond, border engraved steel mounts comprising butt caps & D-shaped trigger guards each with pineapple finial & decorated with a martial trophy & foliage on the bow, stirrup ramrods. With W. K. Neil collection tags no. p315/6.
No. 183, Early 19th Century
Very high quality pistols in good condition, rebrowned barrels.
Provenance: The Earls of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle, Cumberland (probably in the house sale conducted by Maple & Co. and Thomas Wyatt, V.A., 16 April 1947)
W. Keith Neal Collection, P315 and 316. In the barrel there is W.K.Neil’s card saying purchased at the Lowther Castle sale.
Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection 10 November 2005, lot 94
John Prosser is recorded at 9 Charing Cross, London, between 1796 and 1853. He was appointed Sword Cutler and Beltmaker to King George III in 1795 and to King George IV in 1827.
See Leslie Southwick, ‘London Silver-hilted Swords’, 2001, pp. 199-201
The Earl of Lonsdale 1757 – 1844 William Lowther was born the son of the Reverend Sir William Lowther, Bart, of Swillington in Yorkshire. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1777 on the death of his father and, on the death of his cousin became Viscount Lonsdale in 1802. He was elected MP, successively, for Carlisle (1780-82), Cumberland (1784-90) and Rutland (1796-1802). In 1802 he became Lord Lieutenant of both Cumberland and Westmorland, holding these posts until his death in 1844. In 1807 he was created Earl of Lonsdale (the title being revived for him) and made a Knight of the Garter.