An Exceptionally Rare Flintlock Wender Pistol by Brummitt of Birmingham. 15” overall, 8 ¾” 20 bore two stage barrels engraved ‘Warsop’ on each breech, London proofs. The rear of each breech decorated with wheat ears, border engraved pan plates, steels & breech plates, border engraved tang decorated with foliage, bevelled back action lock & cock the former signed ‘Brummitt’ in a swag, the side plate engraved with trophy of arms. Swan necked cocks, frizzens with roller’s on toe, with raised spoon shaped pans, swelling flat sided figured walnut butt, silver shield shaped escutcheon, engraved silver pommel, horn tipped ramrod.
Circa 1797.
Silver maker’s mark of Charles Freeth, Hallmarks for 1797.
Very good condition, barrels with an old rebrown. Wender pistols are very rare in English gun making.
Samuel Brummitt (1770-1820) made double barrel, over & under flintlock pocket pistols & double barrel flintlock fowling pieces of fine workmanship. Also made flintlock rifles. Shop located at Warsop, Nottinghamshire.
For a related pair of pistols by John Richards of London see Clay P. Bedford and Stephen V. Grancsay, ‘Early Firearms of Great Britain and Ireland from the Collection of Clay P. Bedford’ exhibition catalogue, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1971, pp. 132-135, no. 141