A Superb Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols by Griffin. 14 ½” overall, 8 ¾” 16 bore tapering round sighted barrels, signed within an engraved border along the top ‘GRIFFIN LONDON’, & stamped with London proofs & Foreigners marks at the breech, profusely engraved steel tangs, rounded border engraved locks signed ‘GRIFFIN’ cocks decorated en suite, with rare set triggers. Full stocked in walnut with raised mouldings around the locks & the tangs, gilt silver pierced side plates depicting foliage, foliate escutcheons with the original owners crest, silver grotesque masks stamped with hallmarks & turned silver ramrod pipes. Both pistols have steel trigger guards decorated with a chiselled flower head on the bow & shell-like finials.
Circa 1760
Pistols in good, crisp untouched condition overall. One pistol with old repair at frizzen.
The pistols are accompanied with what appear to be original rare leather frizzen protectors.
Benjamin Grffin, shop in Bond Street, London. One of the early makers of double barrel pistols & fowling pieces. Made flintlock pocket & holster pistols with silver mountings, also double barrelled, side-by-side, flintlock pistols with two hammers & two triggers. The name became Griffin & Tow from 1773 to 1796, continuing on Bond Street. Made cannon barrel flintlock pocket pistols & silver mounted flintlock holster pistols. Also brass barrelled flintlock blunderbusses.
Benjamin Griffin apprenticed to Samuel Harrison, 1719; gave up apprentice and worked as Foreign gunmaker allowed to prove guns by Gunmakers Co., 1724-31. Told to give up work by Gunmakers CO., but traded as gunmaker (Successor to Samuel Garrison), Bond St., 1735-70. Registered silversmiths mark, Goldsmiths Hall, 1743. With son, Joseph, took out Sun Ins. (No. 159594)on goods at Cross & Griffin, New Bond Street., 1757. Died 1770.
Joseph Son of Benjamin. Apprenticed to Samuel Blanckley, turned over to father, 1741; free of Gunmakers CO., 1750. Proof piece and mark 1759. Elected Assistant, 1759; Master, 1762, 1763. Appointed Gentlemen Armourer to His Majesty’s Stables-in-Ordinary, 1760. Gunmaker to His Majesty near the Duke of Graftons, Bond Street., 1763. In partnership with father until 1770, then with John Tow, 1772-82. Died in 1784. Succeeded by John Tow.