Original Items: Only One Pair Available. This is a very attractive matched pair of late 18th to early 19th century English flintlock belt pistols, both signed THOMAS on the lock plates and built in the refined sporting and traveling pistol style of circa 1790-1810. The pistols are essentially identical in configuration, with 9" two stage barrels, walnut half stocks, horn nose caps, sliding safeties, roller frizzens, waterproof style pans, engraved iron furniture, and horn tipped ramrods with clearing worms. One pistol retains a 4" belt hook on the left side, while the other shows no obvious evidence that a hook was ever fitted, leaving open the possibility that they were paired at a later date rather than ordered together from the outset.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Both pistols are signed on the lock plates:

THOMAS

We have not been able to identify the specific maker with confidence. THOMAS is a relatively common surname in the British gun trade, and without an address or additional identifying mark it would be unsafe to assign these pistols to a particular Thomas gunsmith. The signed locks nevertheless establish a clear English commercial identity for the pair.

Each pistol measures approximately 14 3/4" overall and is fitted with a 9" barrel of approximately 0.58" bore. The barrels are two stage, transitioning from octagonal at the breech to round toward the muzzle, with a decorative band at the transition and additional engraving.

The steel of both barrels shows visible variation in tone and surface pattern that may indicate laminated or pattern welded construction. Without more definitive metallurgical or maker evidence, we have left the exact barrel construction cautious rather than identifying it positively as Damascus.

The locks are notably advanced for the period. Each has two screws behind the cock and a sliding safety mounted to the rear. Neither safety presently appears to engage correctly, and this is fully disclosed. The frizzens are bridle reinforced and use small rollers at the ends of the frizzen springs to reduce friction during opening and closing. The pans are narrow and closely fitted to the frizzen faces, with drainage gutters on either side. This is the type of late 18th century English “waterproof” lock arrangement intended to shed rainwater away from the priming pan and reduce the chance of moisture reaching the powder.

No flintlock of this period was literally waterproof, but English makers developed increasingly sophisticated pan and frizzen designs to make locks substantially more resistant to wet weather. This pair shows several of those desirable late flintlock refinements.

Both locks remain mechanically active during manual inspection. The pistol retaining the belt hook holds and releases correctly. The second pistol does not presently hold at half cock, an important mechanical deficiency that is disclosed exactly as observed.

Both pistols are stocked in walnut with elegant half stock architecture and horn nose caps. Raised lock panels and corresponding counterpanels are present, while the remainder of the stocks is comparatively restrained. The grips are flat sided and checkered at the rear. Each wrist is fitted with a small shield shaped silver escutcheon, adding a refined sporting touch without excessive ornamentation.

The iron furniture is minimal but very nicely finished. Neither pistol has a conventional butt cap or decorative side plate. Instead, each is fitted with an engraved trigger guard and small escutcheons surrounding the lock screws. The trigger guards are particularly attractive, with matching pineapple finials and decorative engraving across the bows. Additional engraving appears on the barrel tangs and around the barrel to tang junctions.

One pistol is fitted with a 4" iron belt hook on the left side. The other shows no obvious vacant screw holes, filled mortise, or other evidence that a corresponding hook was removed. For that reason, we cannot say with certainty whether these pistols were originally ordered as a true pair or were later matched because of their nearly identical construction and decoration.

Each pistol retains a horn tipped ramrod with a clearing worm at the opposite end, a particularly useful and desirable surviving accessory on a pair of traveling or belt pistols from this period.

The left barrel facet of each pistol bears two:

CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS

marks. These are the so called Tower Private Proof marks used by the Board of Ordnance proof house at Tower Wharf for privately made civilian arms. The marks consist of the crowned crossed scepters struck twice and are distinct from the official government proof and view marks found on Ordnance service arms.

The presence of these proof marks strongly supports manufacture before the end of the Tower private proof system around 1810, fitting very well with the circa 1790-1810 stylistic dating of the locks, stocks, and furniture.

Overall condition of both pistols is very good, bordering on near excellent for their age. They show only light service and handling wear, with attractive aged surfaces and no major damage noted in the supplied inspection.

With their matching THOMAS signed locks, elegant half stocks, horn tipped ramrods, sliding safeties, roller frizzens, waterproof style pans, finely engraved pineapple finial trigger guards, Tower Private Proof marks, and nearly identical overall construction, this is a particularly handsome brace of late Georgian English flintlock pistols. Whether originally ordered together or carefully matched later, they display exceptionally well as a pair and would be a strong addition to a collection of English sporting arms, traveling pistols, late flintlock mechanisms, or refined civilian firearms of the Napoleonic era.

Specifications (Pair):

Year of Manufacture: circa 1790–1810
Maker: Thomas
Caliber: .58" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 9 inches
Overall Length: 14 3/4 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". 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.