A Scottish All Metal Military Flintlock Pistol by Murdoch. 12” overall, 7” round barrel with London proofs & ‘IW’ (John Waters) mark. Flat lock of Highland type, signed ‘Murdoch’ with horizontal sear, bridle-less pan, swan neck cock, trefoil end frizzen spring. Gun metal full stock of regulation Highland form, with a plain kidney shaped butt with plugged hole, (these pistols were originally to have prickers like the Christie military pistols, however the design changed before they were finished). Screw fastened iron belt hook & exposed ball type trigger, thin steel ramrod.
In good condition.
Pistols for Scottish regiments were not supplied by the Board of Ordnance but bought by the 74th & 75th Regiment’s agent direct from Mr Dury a London jeweller for 10s a pair.
Thomas Murdoch (1735-1791) was a prolific maker of high quality pistols, & the design of the later lobe butt in Scottish pistols, around 1750, is accredited to him. In about 1774 he emigrated from the Perthshire gunmaking village of Doune, following the English proscription on the Highlanders’ ownership of firearms because of the failed Jacobite rising, and set up his pistol making business in Walkside, Leith, from 1780 to 1790.
John Waters Birmingham 1776-88, Inventor of the spring bayonet.
See ‘Scottish Firearms’ by Blair & Woosnan-Savage page 35 and Plate 54, and ‘Small Arms of British Forces in America 1664-1815’ D.W Bailey pages 172-74 and plate 9-6.