A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760,  Tower of London proved

A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Ship's Captain's Pistol, c 1760, Tower of London proved

Used by a British Naval Captain since the Anglo French wars in America, the American Revolution and right through the Napoleonic Wars. A long overall pistol, with a typical, swamped, two stage barrel, the octagonal breech having Tower of London private proofs; plain flat signed lock, with unbridled frizzen and swan neck cock, superb ‘Jutland Regia’ walnut fullstock with bulbous butt; brass mounts include grotesque mask butt cap, oval escutcheon, flat sideplate and trigger guard with acorn finial; with horn tipped wooden ramrod. Very good tight and crisp action. Brass cannon barrel pistols were the weapon of choice for naval officers and ship's captains for use at sea. This is a superb example. The muzzle (and often the bore) was flared with the intent not only to increase the spread of the shot, but also to funnel powder and shot into the weapon, making it easier to reload in haste. The overtly flared muzzle is the defining feature of this fabulous pistol. Ship's Captain's found such impressive guns so desirable as they had two prime functions to clear the decks with one shot, and the knowledge to an assailant that the pistol had the capability to achieve such a result. In the 18th and 19th century mutiny was a common fear for all commanders, and not a rare as one might imagine. The Capt. Could keep about his person or locked in his gun cabinet in his quarters a gun just as this. The barrel could be loaded with single ball or swan shot, ball twice as large as normal shot, that when discharged at close quarter could be devastating, and terrifyingly effective. Potentially taken out four or five assailants at once. The muzzle was swamped like a cannon for two reasons, the first for ease of rapid loading, the second for intimidation. There is a very persuasive psychological point to the size of this gun's muzzle, as any person or persons facing it could not fail to fear the consequences of it's discharge, and the act of surrender or retreat in the face of an well armed pistol such as this could be a happy and desirable result for all parties concerned. Action in excellent working order. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables

Code: 24057

3995.00 GBP