A Flintlock Officer’s Pistol by Prosser, Charing Cross, London. 15 ½” overall, 9” sighted 16 bore barrel engraved 'CHARING CROSS, LONDON' along the sighting flat & engraved with a band of chevron ornament at the breech, London Proofs. Border engraved tang incorporating a back sight & decorated with a Britannia shield & foliage. Border engraved flat bevelled lock signed ‘Prosser’ decorated with a starburst behind the pan & with safety catch, engraved cock with bun nut, roller on toe of the frizzen. Figured full stock 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 with pineapple finial & decorated with a martial trophy & foliage on the bow, original stirrup ramrod.
Circa 1810
Very high quality pistol in good condition,
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