Offered here is a lovely example of a Flintlock French Officer’s Pistol that likely dates from the second half of the 18^thCentury. While no visible signature is present on the lock or barrel, the form and style are unmistakably French, and the form is consistent with pistols being produced during the last half of the 1700s. 

The gun was a rather high-grade gun when new and still shows much of its former glory, showing the moderate wear and use one would expect from a gun that is around 250 years old, yet showing no abuse or real damage. Evidence of the pistol’s original glory remain in the engraving found on the gun’s barrel and lock, the traces of gold gilt on the barrel and the lovely, raised carvings found on the stock.

The pistol is nominally .63 caliber smoothbore and has a pinned octagon to round barrel that is 8” in length. The overall length of the gun is nominally 13 ½” making is a little on the large size for pocket carry and a little on the small side for pommel holsters. The pistol appears to have been produced “in the bright” with the barrel, lock and iron mountings left unfinished, although as noted the barrel shows the remains of gilt highlights. The 4 ¼” flat iron lock has a pronounced teat at the rear and is decorated with well executed flowing foliate engraving with the swan neck cock engrave ensuite. The lock has a faceted, fenced and unbridled detachable iron pan. The unbridled pan is a construction feature that suggests the pistol was more likely produced circa 1750-1775 than 1775-1800. The steel (frizzen) has an elegantly curled toe, and the steel spring terminates in a bulbous finial with a small teat. It is not clear if the few swirling lines below the pan are part of the decorative engraving or the remnants of a light gun maker’s signature. The lock remains in original flint, and the cock appears to be original to the lock, with the correct geometry, ensuite engraving and perfect fit. The barrel is engraved on the three upper flats with flowing foliate themes and retains traces of the original gilt enhancements that decorated the pistol when it was new. The pistol has an engraved buttcap that is not hallmarked, but which appears to be silver. The buttcap is engraved with two themes. The first is a martial retention of the classic cornucopia image on the rear of the buttcap. It features flowing foliate images, with what would have typically been the “horn of plenty” in the center replaced with a quiver of arrows. The bottom of the grip features a feminine pair of eyes that coupled with the bird’s head shape of the grip give the impression that it was meant to represent a female birds head, completer with feathery crest and some edge details that suggest the beak of the bird. The balance of the mountings, including the two screw sideplate, topiary motif triggerguard, ramrod pipe and entry pipe are of iron. The pipes secure an iron tipped wooden ramrod with a wiper at the end, that appears to be original to the pistol. The stock of the pistol is of European hardwood, likely walnut and features decorative raised carvings. Simple raised outlines, terminating in tear drop finials are carved around the edge of the lock and counterpane with incised lines decorating the lower edge of  the pistol’s forend. The apron around the breech plug tang is surrounded by raised foliate and vine carvings, with the area between the triggerguard and entry pipe carved ensuite. As typical of most pistols of the era, there is no rear sight, but a silver blade front sight is present about 1 3/8” from the muzzle of the gun.

The pistol remains in VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE condition with only the oxidation of the iron and loss of gilt decorations keeping it from rating “fine”. The pistol appears to be completely original and period, with no replaced parts and as noted, the lock remains in original flint. The metal is moderately oxidized and has a dull, smoky gray patina with scattered patches of darker oxidation and age discoloration. The metal is mostly smooth, with only some freckles of minor surface roughness and some minor pitting in the breech area. The engraving remains mostly clear and visible and is crisper on the lock, with more wear in the breech area. The breech engravings retain some traces of their gilt decorations as well. The lock functions crisply on all positions and operates exactly as it should. As noted the pistol remains in original flint. The touchhole shows moderate erosion and is unmolested, remaining properly tapered and well centered in the pan. The pistol's bore is dark, dirty and moderately pitted, showing heavy oxidation. The pistol’s stock still remains fairly crisp with good lines and with most of the raised carving remaining clear and retaining good details. Any softening or rounding to the sharp edges and the carving details are not the result of sanding, but simply from age, carry and use. The stock is free of any breaks or repairs and has a lovely, untouched, rich patina. The wood shows some scattered bumps, dings and mars from handling and use, but shows absolutely no abuse.

Overall, this is a really attractive, complete, original and somewhat intriguing Flintlock French Officer’s Pistol. While normally pistols of the era would be consistently mounted with matching metals, brass, iron or silver, this one mixed iron and silver, which is somewhat uncommon. This gun was almost certainly originally part of a pair, and it is possible that the pair was made entirely iron mounted and the buyer chose to have the engraved silver buttcap added at the time of purchase, or sometime during the period of use. The buttcap fits perfectly and matches the age and patina of the gun, so it has clearly been there since the period of use. However, the mixture of silver and iron mountings, along with the somewhat whimsically engraved “sexy eagle eyes” on the buttcap do make it a very intriguing gun. This would be a nice addition to any collection of 18^th century flintlock pistols or to a Revolutionary War era collection, as a good representative example of what European officers often carried during the period. It’s a lovely gun that displays very nicely and is complete and correct in every way, so it will no doubt be a nice addition to your collection.