A Wonderful American Revolutionary War Period Silver Mounted Georgian Brass Barrel English Flintlock Officer's Pistol by WILSON

 A Wonderful American Revolutionary War Period Silver Mounted Georgian Brass Barrel English Flintlock Officer's Pistol by WILSON, circa. 1770-1782.  7", .65 caliber brass round swamped smooth-bore, pin-fastened, barrel engraved on the top flat "WILSON-MINORIES-LONDON" and is fitted with a gold touch-hole insert.  The barrel has (2) oval "Crown" over "GP" (Gun Makers Proof), "Crown" over "V" (Viewed) proof marks located on the left side of the breech with the barrel maker's mark a " * " over "RW" (Robert Wilson).  The convex lock has generous amounts of case hardening colors with decorative engraving and maker signed "WILSON" and the frizzen has a high quality roller.  The pistol is in its original flintlock configuration with no replacement parts or restoration.  Fantastic classic all sterling silver furniture includes an engraved and hallmarked high-relief/embossed trigger guard with floral finial, helmeted vacant wrist escutcheon with lower panoply-of-arms,  long-eared butt-cap with an angry Lion's face and a side plate depicting a castle surrounded by a panoply-of-arms.  The stock has lovely high-relief raised decorative carving around the beautifully engraved barrel tang terminating in a scallop shell pattern.  Overall the stock is solid with minor loses around pins and has a few dents, scratches and dings from years of handling/service.  Original horn tipped wood ram rod retaining the iron worm.  In good mechanical working order.  13.25" overall length.  A great untouched example of a very scarce Georgian flintlock pistol worthy of inclusion to any collection the finest Museum !

NOTE: This form of flintlock pistol is one of the most desirable of all pistols made in the Georgian period because of the quality and mix of brass and silver which creates a very pleasing esthetic appearance.  High ranking Officer's and those famous historical figures such as George Washington owned very similar examples.

SILVER HALLMARKS:  Silversmith "M.B" (Moses Brent), 1770-1808, LONDON Hallmark of "Rampant Lion", the Quality mark of the "Crown" over the "Lion's Head" and the Date Mark Letter "g" (1782).

About the Maker: Robert Wilson 1 (1735-1772), Robert Wilson 2 (1771-1780) the father of William Wilson (1732-1808).   Ref. GUNMAKERS OF LONDON 1350-1850, pg. 204-205.

 TTI-571022

PRIVATE COLLECTION, Consignment; Ben S. 2022 #5.