This is wonderful example of a Low Country Flintlock Long Holster Pistol from the mid-18^th century. The term “Low Countries” is an archaic reference to the Northwestern European lowland regions that are part of the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt river delta, which today would be the countries of The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Other regions that have traditionally been included in the “Low Countries” prior to the 20^th century include the Germanic regions of East Friia, Guelders and Cleves and even portions of the German Rhineland. The pistol is unmarked externally but has all the hallmarks of the Dutch-Germanic arms being produced in the 18^th century arms making centers of Liège, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Solingen and Suhl. The pistols made in those areas during that period tend to feature convex flint locks with external bridles, raised carved moldings around the lock mortise, side plate, breech plug tang and along the forend and most noticeable a very long, low rounded front sight blade set well back from the muzzle of the pistol made of brass or in the case of guns from the Germanic regiones of the Low Countries, German silver.

The pistol offered here is a classic Mid-18th Century Low Country Long Holster Pistol that has a nominally 14” pinned octagon to round barrel with an extended, nearly full-length nocksform on the top that terminates in the classic elongated German silver front sight blade that is about 1 1/8” long. The pistol is nominally .60 caliber (about 20 Bore) and smoothbore. The slightly curved, semi-banana convex flint lock is 5” in length with a pronounced teat at the rear and had a detachable rounded and fenced iron pan without an external bridle. The hammer (frizzen) toe is curled, and the steel (frizzen) spring has a feathery pointed finial. The cock is of the rounded, swan neck form without reinforcement. Internally, the lock features a bridle on the tumbler to make the lock operate more smoothly and reliably. The lock is unmarked both externally and internally. The iron trigger has the classic reverse curl at its tip, typical of triggers during the first half of the 18^th century. The pistol is mounted in brass with wonderful Grotesque Mask bulbous butt cap with elongate 2” langets and chased with classic scenes and motifs. The open work side plate features a combination of classical and hunting scenes with what is probably Athena or Diana (Greek or Roman, your choice) in a stylized chariot drawn by a wild boar and a hunting dog, all surrounded by forest imagery. The slightly elongated triggerguard is lightly engraved on the bow with foliate and classic themes and has a deeply engraved and detailed topiary urn finial. The horn tipped tapered trumpet head wooden ramrod is secured by a single faceted brass thimble and an entry pipe of the same pattern. The full-length European walnut stock features raised carved moldings around the lock mortise, counterpane and breech plug tang. The carving around the tang features flowing feathery floral motifs with punch dot shading in the center. Finally, the forend features carved moldings around the entry pipe and along the edges of the ramrod channel. The forend is tipped in horn.

The pistol remains in NEAR FINE condition, particularly considering that is approximately 250 to 275 years old and was likely made circa 1740-1760. The metal has a mostly smooth, lightly oxidized brownish gray patina that is slightly mottled and streaky. There are some scattered freckles of surface oxidation and scattered light surface roughness on the barrel with some tiny areas of pinpricking and minor pinpricking here and there. Traces of old oil or grease have created a yellowish tinge on the metal here and there, most noticeably on the lock. The flint lock remains in original flint and is unaltered. It even appears to retain its original top jaw and screw. The lock is lightly oxidized with freckles of oxidized discoloration and some pinpricking present on the lock which has an underlying dull pewter gray patina. The lock is mechanically functional and operates crisply on all positions. The touchhole unmolested and well located in the pan, if a little forward of center, with proper taper and angle. The brass furniture has a lovely, uncleaned butterscotch patina and is very attractive. The open work sideplate has the same lovely appearance but is cracked through along its width from top to bottom at the rear lock screw. Some minute traces of gilt are visible in the deepest recesses of the chiseled buttcap. The stock remains in about FINE condition, particularly when its age of nearly three centuries is considered. The wood is solid and complete and free of any breaks, repairs or restoration. The edges of the molding remain very crisp and show only some light wear, and the wood retains strong edges and lines with no indications of having been sanded. The wood does show wear and minor damage commensurate with the age of the gun but absolutely no abuse. There are some very small areas of minor chipped loss, primarily around the mounting pins, edges of the langets and triggerguard and the periphery of the lock mortise. There are also numerous scattered small dings, dents, nicks and scuffs present on the wood. The ramrod remains full length and matches the gun perfectly suggesting that it is either original or at worst a period of use replacement. 

Overall, this is a very attractive and striking Low Country Long Holster Pistol from the mid-18^th Century. The gun is complete and correct and remains in original flint. It is very crips and displays wonderfully and would be a fine addition to any collection of 18^th century military pistols from the period of the French & Indian War or American Revolution and could well have belonged to a Hessian Officer who was here for the American Revolution. Pistols of this size and type do not regularly appear on the market, particularly in this wonderful level of preservation. Don’t miss your chance to add this lovely pistol to your collection of mid-1700s small arms.