This is a really nice example of the scarce Robbins & Lawrence marked powder flask for use with their series of pepperbox handguns. The flask is shown as $1252 in Ray Riling’s classic reference The Powder Flask Book. The flask is embossed in three lines on the reverse:

ROBBINS AND LAWRENCE

PATENT REVOLVING HAMMER PISTOL

WINDSOR VT

The copper flask is lozenge shaped and measures 3.5” in overall length, including the spout and is 1.3” in width. The body of the flask measures 2.75” without the spout and the spout measures .93” in length. The flask is .85” in diameter at the throat and the body of the flask tapers from the thickest point at the throat being .8”, narrowing to .5” at the base. The brass top is secured by three blued screws and includes a typical charging system with a spout that looks to throw a charge of between 10 and 15 grains. The spout still easily unscrews from the top and the charger works as it should with good spring tension. The spring retains some of its original fire blue but shows scattered light oxidation on its surface as well. The flask remains in FINE overall condition with a lovely, rich ocher patina. The flask’s body shows no significant dings, dents, or pushes and remains in very crisp condition. However, there are a few very tiny impact marks around the shoulders of the flask and a couple of small dings and mars at the base of the flask along the seam line. The seams are tight and show no splits or repairs. Overall, this is really great example of flask that was produced for sale with Robbins & Lawrence’s series of pepperbox pistols, which were primarily based upon the Lawrence Patent. Robbins & Lawrence produced about 7,000 pepperboxes between 1851 and 1854, both with ring trigger under hammer and with conventional double action mechanisms. This is the flask that accompanied those pistols, and which would be correct for a cased example of one of those guns. If you have a high condition cased Robbins & Lawrence pepperbox and you don’t have this flask in the case, this is the one you need to make your set correct. It’s a very attractive and well-marked example that will only enhance the display of your pistol. 

ON HOLD