Original Item. One of a Kind. This is a very rare English Flintlock Dragoon pistol, the first pattern that was made, the beginning of a long line of pistols in use up through the mid 19th Century. This particular example was manufactured during the short and tumultuous reign of James II of England (1685-1688) and has his CROWN / J 2 R royal cypher at the center of the "banana" profile lock, which has THREE lock screws through the left side, and no provision for a side plate. The tail of the lock plate is signed with BROOKE in a banner, and this marking has what looks like another "banner" flowing back to the "TEAT" at the end of the lock plate. The lock has the correct early pattern "Swan Neck" cock, with an unbridled frizzen, and has only ONE lock screw behind the cock, a style changed between 1757 and 1762 that indicated the use of a shorter sear spring

Robert Brooke was an Ordnance contractor in 1661-1689 and was a known manufacturer of flintlock dragoon pistols and other arms, such as this carbine shown here: James II Era Brooke Flintlock Carbine. The markings and style of the lock plate on our example are an exact match. The two stage barrel is octagonal near the breech, and has some proof marks on the left facet, however they are too faint to make out. There are also some marks on the top facet, which could be numbers.

The dragoon pistol is in very good condition, and measures 20 inches in overall length with a 13 inch long .60" caliber smoothbore barrel. The stock is fitted with a sheet iron trigger guard and barrel band, along with a "dish" shaped brass butt cap retained by a single screw. It shows a good amount of use, but was also well cared for, as we do not see any major damage from misuse, age, or oxidation. The metalwork has a lovely aged patina, showing overall wear to the barrel, but there is no real rust peppering or other issues, just wear from cleaning. The stock is also very good, showing a lovely color, and is mostly solid, except for some cracks along the woodline on the fore stock. There is a lovely wooden ramrod in the channel, however there is no way to really say if it is original, but it definitely looks period. We checked the lock, and it is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full.

This is an incredibly rare and early English flintlock dragoon pistol. Examples like this are incredibly difficult to acquire, especially outside of the United Kingdom. Because of his short rule, all firearms with James II's cipher are very scarce. The ties to the last crowned English, Scottish, and Irish Catholic monarch certainly adds to this carbine's interest. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1685
Caliber: .60" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 13 inches
Overall Length: 20 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

James II (James VII in Scotland) was the last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland and was removed from power in the famous "Glorious Revolution of 1688" (or Bloodless Revolution). His efforts to rule as an absolute monarch in defiance of Parliament combined with his Catholicism and friendly relations with the "Sun King" Louis XIV of France, England's historic rival, certainly did not help matters, but the birth of his son, James Francis Edward Stuart, in 1688 really brought tensions to a head since it established a Catholic heir and thus a potential Catholic line to the throne into the future. Prince William of Orange, the husband of James II's protestant daughter Mary, was "invited" to invade and take the throne as William III. With his landing, James II's army largely deserted him, and he fled to France but did not abdicate the throne. Ruling together, William and Mary famously signed the English Bill of Rights in 1689 that guaranteed more freedom and power in Parliament, rules for the line of succession to guarantee Protestants remained on the throne, and individual liberties, such as the right to bear arms for self-defense (for Protestants) and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. The trampling, or perceived trampling, of rights guaranteed in 1689 were in part the origins of the American Revolution, and the U.S. Bill of Rights has clear echoes of the English Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

James II attempted to recover the throne in 1689 and landed in Ireland with French support while the Jacobites in Scotland were in revolt on his behalf, but his forces were defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in northeastern Ireland, and he was forced again to return to France were he was under Louis XIV's protection until his death in 1701. The French king recognized his son as James III. However, Anne, James II's other Protestant daughter, became queen of Great Britain and Ireland in 1707 upon William III's death and reigned until her death in 1714 when George I of the House of Hanover became king marking the beginning of the Georgian era. Supporters of the would be James III (James VIII in Scotland) led another Jacobite uprising in Scotland in 1715, and his son, "Bonnie Prince Charlie," led a final rising in 1745 with French support that even invaded England before being crushed at the Battle of Culloden. With the Jacobite army defeated and George II secure on the throne, the era of the Stuart's was over.

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