Original Item: Only One Available. This is magnificent example of a Scottish "Ram's Horn" Highland Flintlock pistol, made by the highly respected Scottish gunsmith, Thomas Murdock of Doune and later Leith. Also referred to as the "scroll butt" style, this is one of several styles of all steel Scottish Highland pistols originally developed by Thomas Caddell, a Muthill, Scotland, born gunsmith who settled in Doune during 1647. He began making pistols and due to the scarcity of wood in the region, developed an all steel design that became very popular in the area, and beyond. As the the all metal design was somewhat harder to grasp, he developed several different styles of stocks with widened butts to make them easier to pull out of wherever they were stored. Some were "lobe" shaped, some were "heart" shaped", but the "scroll butt" or "ram's head" became by far the most distinctive. It also allowed a touch hole pick to be stored between the screws as part of the design.

There were four generations of gunsmith's named Thomas Caddell in Doune, and the shop took in many apprentices over this time, the most well-known of which were Campbell, Christie, and Thomas Murdoch, all of whom continued the style. By the 1740s these elegant pistols had became the most sought after amongst Highland officers. The unique elements of the Doune pistols were the scroll or rams horn butt, fluted barrels at the breech and the octagonal flared muzzles. Soon pistol makers all across Scotland (and in England) began to copy the styles originating in Doune, however they were only imitations, and lacked the quality of the real deal. After the failure of the ’45 rebellion, the use of weapons in the Highlands was banned, and this reduced demand for Doune pistols from the Highland clans for a period. However, Doune continued to supply the wider gentry, and to fulfil government contracts and commissions for army officers.

This exquisite engraved pistol was produced after the rebellion by renowned Thomas Murdoch, and is correctly signed T. MURDOCH on the lock plate under the pan. Murdoch was born in Doune in 1735, and apprenticed to Thomas Caddell, after which he opened up his own shop in the town. He looks to have relocated for better opportunities for business after the rebellion, and in 1774 he is recorded as a pistol maker in Walk Side, Leith, the port area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. He would continue to be recorded in that location in 1780, 1782, and 1790, after which he passed away in 1791, and was succeeded in the family business by his son William, first recorded in 1793. Murdoch’s obituary in the Edinburgh Evening Courant (22 September 1791) states that in the previous year (1790) “he sent, at his own expense, a pair of pistols of the old Highland construction” to George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales (1762-1830) who ruled as King George IV from 1820. That Thomas Murdoch should have been chosen as the maker of pistols for presentation to a distinguished foreign commander and that he should feel confident enough to present a pair to the heir to the throne suggests that he was held in very high esteem.

By the mid 19th century, this style of pistol would be mostly ornamental, often fully silver or nickel plated with lots of poorly executed decorative embellishment, however this early fully engraved example is from when they were still intended for use, and would be secured on a belt over the shoulder inside the jacket. The belt hook is still intact, and has a decorated perforated base on the left side of the pistol. The barrel is the characteristic "cannon" shape with an octagonal flared muzzle and fluted breech, which has a sighting notch at the top. Under the barrel is a ramrod that terminates in a "thistle" style design, which pulls out easily from the long tube it is held in. The trigger is the "ball on a post" type we usually see, made from two pieces of metal put together, and does not have any type of trigger guard. The grip terminates in the correct "ram's horn" type scrolls, and the touch hole pick in between unscrews easily for use. The sides of the grip also have oval silver plates attached, another distinctive feature of the style.

Almost the entire surface of the pistol shows the characteristic high quality engraving that makes Murdoch pistols so desirable. The amount of time it would have taken to accomplish this was definitely not small, but for a highly-respected maker it was the norm. This pistol also features a very interesting finial on the "swan neck" cocking piece, which is around and tapers towards the rear, being pierced with an 8-pointed star. These were only seen on early pistols produced by Murdoch, and they are exceedingly rare. We have only had one pistol by Murdoch previously, and that was a rare "lobe butt" example, which did not have this type of cock.

Overall the pistol has a lovely patina of age, showing light overall staining, but no major peppering, past pitting, or other damage. We checked the lock action, and it is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full. Of note is that the locks on Murdoch pistols are almost a hybrid between a flintlock and Miquelet, so the hammer is held at half cock by a protrusion on the lock in front, which then retracts when the trigger is pulled.

A fantastic and rare Scottish belt pistol by a the legendary Thomas Murdoch, the likes of which we have rarely seen before. This would make a great addition to any collection. Ready to display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: circa 1760
Caliber: .59" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 7 3/8 inches
Overall Length: 12 inches
Action: Percussion lock side action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

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Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.