{"product_id":"original-british-1772-hallmarked-silver-mounted-pair-of-flintlock-pistols-by-griffin-tow-with-gold-inlaid-barrels-by-eudal-pous-of-barcelona-spain","title":"Original British 1772 Hallmarked Silver Mounted Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Griffin \u0026 Tow with Gold Inlaid Barrels by Eudal Pous of Barcelona Spain","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOriginal Items: One of a kind Pair. Occasionally we are graced with a matched pair of pistols that come directly from company director Christian Cranmer's acquisitions from over his many years as a collector.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere is a wonderful matched pair of ornate British Flintlock pistols, fully silver mounted and probably made during 1773 or so, bearing \u003cstrong\u003e1772\u003c\/strong\u003e London Hallmarks on the trigger guards. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThey were produced by the partnership between \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Griffin and John Tow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, right before the start of the American Revolutionary War. Griffin \u0026amp; Tow were known high quality gunmakers working out of London, England between 1772 and 1782 as stated in H. Blackmore’s \u003cem\u003eGunmakers of London 1350-1850\u003c\/em\u003e, page 104. These were undoubtedly produced for a VERY well-heeled customer, as they feature matching gold inlaid Spanish barrels, made by \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEudal Pous of Barcelona\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, a VERY well-regarded gunmaker who would pass away in 1827. If you were looking for a fantastic pair of pistols, this might just fit the bill!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe pistols measure 16 inches in overall length, with Spanish 10 inch long two-stage round to octagon barrels, which honestly look to never have been fired. The bores are clean and smooth, both measuring approximately 0.66\", with no signs of oxidation or fouling. Both feature some fantastic engraving at the transition from round to octagon, as well as some great foliate engraving worn on the barrel tangs. There are wonderful gold inlays around the breech areas, which surround \u003c\/span\u003ethe typical Spanish punzón touchmarks on the barrels, highlighted in gold, which reads:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Crown)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEV\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDAL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePOVS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe polished iron lock plates are each marked \u003cstrong\u003eGRIFFIN \u0026amp; TOW\u003c\/strong\u003e under the flash pan, and have beautiful high relief folate engraving on the lock plate tails, with additional engraving on the cock and the screw.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e The fabulous Silver mounts on each consist of masked long eared butt caps with \"grotesque\" masks, trigger guards, escutcheons, two ramrod pipes, and extraordinary perforated side plates. These feature lovely martial designs, and the grotesques may be the best we have seen! The escutcheons on the back of the wrists have some VERY fine engraving with banners in the middle, which could potentially be a coat of arms design, ripe for future research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eClose examination of the very end of the trigger guards next to the butt caps shows London sterling silver hallmarks, which from left to right are a capital letter\u003cstrong\u003e \"R\" in a shield\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Crowned Leopard's Head\"\u003c\/strong\u003e for London, and the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Lion\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Sterling Standard Mark. The last marking is I·K in a rectangle, the mark of the maker, which could possibly be Jeremiah King of London. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eConsulting London hallmarks shows that this is the marking for \u003cstrong\u003e1772\u003c\/strong\u003e, placing these pistols relatively firmly at that date, which is also right in period for the Griffin \u0026amp; Tow partnership. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe hig\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eh quality stocks themselves both have a bit of curl to the grain, and are masterfully carved around the barrel tangs with great \"shell\" designs, along with some outlines around the lock plate tails. They show only light wear, with one showing some impressed rings in the stock around the lock screws, the cause of which we cannot tell. We cannot see any other issues, damage, repairs, or deficiencies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e The wooden ramrods each have horn tips and one is fitted with a screw-shaped ball extractor to the rear. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCondition of the pistols is very good, with very minor wear and a great patina of age. The locks both function correctly, holding at half-cock and firing at full.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThese pistols are exceptional from just about any point of view. We do not get offerings like this very often at all, and this pair is truly one of a kind!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications (The Pair):-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: circa 1772\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .66\" Pistol\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmmunition Type: Lead Ball \u0026amp; Powder\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 10 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 16 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction: Flintlock Side Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Muzzle-Loaded\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43582448500805,"sku":"ONAC25180","price":11995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC25180__1A.jpg?v=1764335194","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-1772-hallmarked-silver-mounted-pair-of-flintlock-pistols-by-griffin-tow-with-gold-inlaid-barrels-by-eudal-pous-of-barcelona-spain","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}