HELP

[Ross F]

New member here with little or no Knowledge , but I buy what I like and take a punt, some you win , some you lose. Always fancied a few flintlocks and percussion pistols, Offered a batch the other day and here you go.

Any help identifying this, country , type etc THANKS in advance . Seems to have quite ornate little ' house pictures ' on the mounts etc possibly Silver ??

 

[Scott Jones]

Interesting piece: never seen one with houses as decorative engravings. It appears to be of a type some collectors call "overcoat" pistols, as they are of a size to fit 19th century overgarments. I don't know what the proof mark is, went through my book of gun markings and didn't find a match. If someone knows what it is and where it came from, that would tell you in which country it was made.

 

[John Stark]

The proof mark looks to be French from the ST. Etienne House

 

[Scott Jones]

Yep, it looks like it's French. Finally found the proof, and it is the same as John states.

 

[Ross F]

Yep, it looks like it's French. Finally found the proof, and it is the same as John states.

Thanx Scott , Mounts look like they might be silver, would that be possible ? if so does that make it a higher quality or value piece, someone suggested for an officer but I don't know if any military links

 

[Scott Jones]

I don't think it is silver mounted, looks like iron only slightly rusted. If they were silver, it would make it somewhat more valuable, but not a lot. I also would not put any connection with a personage, military or not, without further proof. It appears to be a utilitarian firearm more than anything else. I still find the engraving interesting: I have seen and handled many antique firearms and have never seen anything like it. The bolster treatment is also a bit unique. You do have a very collectable pistol.

 

[Ross F]

I don't think it is silver mounted, looks like iron only slightly rusted. If they were silver, it would make it somewhat more valuable, but not a lot. I also would not put any connection with a personage, military or not, without further proof. It appears to be a utilitarian firearm more than anything else. I still find the engraving interesting: I have seen and handled many antique firearms and have never seen anything like it. The bolster treatment is also a bit unique. You do have a very collectable pistol.

Thanx again Scott, as a complete novice on these this is very very informative