A Fine Pair of Travelling Flintlock Pistols By H.W. Mortimer with the Crest of Sir Edward Pellew. 8 ½” overall, 4” 40 bore octagonal barrels engraved on the top flat ‘H.W. MORTIMER & SON LONDON GUN MAKER TO HIS MAJESTY’. Adjustable fore sights, rear sight on engraved tangs, flat border engraved bolted lock decorated with floral engraving & a band of wheat ears, signed ‘H.W. MORTIMER & SON’. French cock, roller frizzen, full stocked, border engraved trigger guard engraved ‘89 FLEET STT’ on bow, pineapple finial, finely chequered grip with horn tipped wooden ramrods, the belt hooks with floral terminal tangs.
Circa 1810
In good condition, some original finish in protected areas, barrels rebrowned.
The crest is of the wreck of the troop ship Dutton East Indiaman from which Pellew saved over 500 troops, wives and crew for which action he was awarded a Baronetcy as Sir Edward Pellew of Treverry, Cornwall
Sir Edward Pellew earned repeated promotions for his gallantry, from the French wars in 1793 until his famous bombardment of Algiers in 1816 when the Dey refused to abolish the taking of Christian slaves. From 1817-1821 he was commander-in-chief at Plymouth.
Harvey Walklate Mortimer (1753-1819) was appointed Gunmaker to George III in 1783. He was at 89 Fleet Street between 1782 & 1814, he was Contractor to the East India Company from 1796 until 1806, in partnership with his son 1808-1811. He retired in 1811 & died in 1819.