Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a truly fantastic offering, the likes of which we rarely see! Henry Nock (1741–1804) was a legendary London Gunsmith, Inventor, and Engineer, who began his career as a locksmith, patenting a design in 1775, before forming several companies to market his products. He truly rose to prominence in 1779 with being contracted to produce James Wilson's "Volley Gun" design, which are highly sought after. Nock became a Freeman of the Gunmakers Company in 1784, after which he was one of the most sought after gunmakers during the French Revolution and Napoleonic periods. His guns were well made, and his designs very innovative, and he carved out a solid place in British gunmaking history before his death in 1804.
His company continued after his death, being run by his foreman and son-in-law James Wilkinson, and this company would eventually become Wilkinson Sword company. Nock also had a nephew, Samuel Nock, was an apprentice under him, and became a well-known gunmaker in his own right, becoming a master of the Gunmakers Company of London in 1836.
This is a magnificent high end matched pair of flintlock officer's traveling pistols, both marked correctly with H=NOCK on the engraved lock plates. They both feature engraved iron mountings, and are fitted with "captured" ramrods, which could not be lost while in use. These must have been purchased by a high ranking officer during the very early 19th century, who unfortunately did not mark their initials on the tarnished silver escutcheons on the back of the grips. The pistols are fitted with simplified stocks without butt plates, much like Fur Trade pistols of the time, but these are far more ornate. The stocks are beautiful walnut, with one pistol showing some great figuring, and they featured checkered grips, which are still sharp showing minimal wear. The horn nose caps are just the icing on the cake.
The pistols are 11 inches in overall length, and feature 5 ¾ inch .65" caliber smoothbore octagon barrels, both marked - - - LONDON - - - on the top. The barrels are spiral forged, with the pattern still fully visible on both barrels, and have a silver inlay by the breech, as well as nickel touch hole liners. The locks are both quite advanced, featuring rollers on the ends of the frizzen springs, half cock safeties, and "waterproof" style flash pans, which seal well and have gutters around the pan for water to flow through. We checked the locks, and both are still fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full, though the safety on one pistol does not move far enough forward to engage. We were able to remove the barrel from one pistol to check for markings, and it was marked with the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the English city of Birmingham.
Both pistols are in fantastic condition, looking to have seen only light use during their "career". The bores of the barrels show a bit of past fouling and oxidation, and the locks do show some use, but that's about it. The stocks are in fantastic shape, showing lovely grain patterns and no cracks or splits. They have some light handling marks, but were definitely well taken care of for the past 200+ years. The metalwork is still beautiful, especially the spiral forged barrels. The engraving on the lock plates and other fittings is still easily visible, and shows the exceedingly high level of guns made by Henry Nock. It would be very hard to improve on either.
To make this offering even better, it came to us with a fantastic custom wood case, which measures approximately 14 ⅝" x 8 ¾" x 2 ⅞", and has different compartments inside, all green velvet lined. These are for various accessories one might use with the pistols, including a bullet mold for round bullets, a wooden ramrod, a small copper powder flask marked SYKES, and some spare round bullets. The case is lovely, and definitely has held the pistols for quite some time! There is a SAMUEL THORNTON label on the inside of the lid, but we do not know if this was the actual merchant it was purchased from.
A simply fantastic pair of Henry Nock flintlock pistols, complete with a custom wood case and some great accessories. It really doesn't get any better than this! Ready to add to your collection and display!
Specifications (Both):-
Year of Manufacture: circa 1800
Caliber: .65" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 5 ¾ inches
Overall Length: 11 inches
Action: Flintlock Side 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.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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 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.
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