A Very Fine Scottish Flintlock All Metal Heart Butt Long Belt Pistol. 15 ½” overall, 11” tapering multi stage 20 bore barrel, faceted at the breech, decorated with raised bands covered in silver engraving. The breech and median each inlaid with a broad central gold panel engraved with stars & framed by a wavy gold line on each side, rounded lock engraved ‘I A McKenzie’ (carefully refreshed) with foliage. Three quarter steel stock engraved with pairs of lines, heart shaped pommel applied with an engraved silver collar en suite with the barrel mouldings, engraved belt hook with pierced rings, moulded button trigger.
Circa 1700
In good condition for age, not polished, possibly blued originally, Top jaw, screw, frizzen, frizzen spring, ramrod & pricker all replaced using contemporary parts.
James McKenzie, son of David McKenzie, Dundee & Breckin.
Similar (not as fine) example in the Victoria and Albert Museum, collection number M.648-1927
For an account of this distinctive group of pistols with heart shaped pommels see W. Reid . "The Heart-Butt Pistols of East Scotland," The Scottish Art Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, Glasgow,1963, pp.