EAST INDIA COMPANY TYPE FLINTLOCK PISTOL CA.1815

This massive pistol dates to the first third of the 1800s, and is of the type used by the native troops of the British Honourable East India Company, as well as the crews of various ships on the waves of the world's oceans. Two pistols of this type are in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in London, and are labeled as sea service pistols. One in particular is identical to the piece being offered here, with the same markings.

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/2414.html

Pistol is in fine overall condition, and lock mechanism functions flawlessly. There is a mark on the lock-plate - a crown with letters DN underneath, which possibly stands for Delft Nederlandse. Seaside city of Delft was a location of one of the largest Dutch arsenals. Another possibility for the DN abbreviation is relating to the O.P. Drissen & Cie, a known Liege gun maker.

Barrel is 23 cm long, in man-stopping .69 caliber. The pistol is in its original condition, with no repairs. Lanyard ring was removed from the butt, probably to fit the gun in the box. Stock is sound, with an old coat of varnish. It is housed in a nice French-fitted box.

An often seen type of martial flintlock pistol, guns like these were probably popular with merchant marine captains, privateers, traders, or anyone else who had cash and valuables to protect, and needed a reliable inexpensive service pistol, with no embellishments.