Original Item: Only one available. This is a very rare "Queen Anne" style pistol with an iron flint "boxlock" frame and turn-off barrel, marked I BUNNEY and LONDON on banners on the sides of the engraved action. Bunney is a known family of gunsmiths who began working in 1730, with Joseph Bunney working during the period 1766-1814. They are listed in Gunmakers of London 1350-1850 by Howard L. Blackmore, however there is no listing of their London location, only one in Birmingham. English gunmakers: The Birmingham and Provincial Gun Trade in the 18th and 19th Century by De Witt Bailey and Douglas A Nie also list Bunney as operating in Birmingham in various locations, so it looks like the "London" listing was only really made to add prestige to their operation. Regardless of the location and history, Joseph Bunney was very well regarded, and the company continued with his son until approximately 1825.

The pistol is fully engraved on all sides of the iron "box lock", and definitely looks to have been made for a well-off client. It features a beautiful wood grip with great color and grain, which has a fantastic decorative embossed silver grotesque mask, with a retaining screw inside the "mouth". There are markings on the bottom of the breech joint, which are the CROWN / GP "gunmaker's proof" and CROWN / V "viewed" markings from the London Gun Company Proof house. Between these is a CROWN / IB stamp for "John Bunney", which used the "Latinized" substitution of "I" for the letter "J", as it was on the action.

The pistol measures 13 inches in overall length, with a 5 3/4 inch screw off 0.59" bore cannon barrel, in the typical "Queen Anne" style, and in this case it can actually still be easily removed! The pistol has an iron trigger guard, and there is no provision for a ramrod, not needed as it had a removable barrel. Condition is very nice, with a lovely patina of age, with the iron and steel showing a lovely lightly oxidized patina, with the engraving still mostly crisp. The lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing only at full. The English Walnut butt grip is lovely, showing only light wear and fantastic grain. We cannot see any damage such as chips, repairs, etc.

A truly lovely "Queen Anne" flintlock pistol by a known and desirable maker, in fine Collector's condition ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1780
Bore Diameter: approx. .59"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 5 7/8 inches
Overall Length: 13 inches
Action: Flintlock Top Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

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.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

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.