Original Item: Only One Available. This type of Pistol was manufactured in Belgium, which was under Napoleon Bonaparte's control until 1814. Production continued after the battle of Waterloo in 1815 and very possibly into the 1820's. Belgium was an Industrial powerhouse, with its great capacity coming from the City of Liège, where gun making was a key industry, and would end up supplying Military Weapons all over Europe after Belgian Independence in 1830.

There is no provision for ramrod, the mounts are all of brass and the grade of manufacture is really quite high. Unlike many we see, this example is fitted with a lovely 5 1/2 inch long belt hook on the left side, which would allow easy attachment to the clothes when necessary. Probably one of the most encountered original flintlock martial pistols from Europe encountered to day. There are no maker markings on the gun, except for a CROWN over DN proof mark on the lock plate just rear of the pan. This is an arsenal stamp indicating "Delft Nederlandse", indicating it was processed at Delft arsenal in the Netherlands before being dispersed into service. There is also a marking on the top of the barrel that is three stars over 19 in a diamond, a marking we do not recognize.

The pistol is fitted with a 9" barrel showing a stylized ADMIRAAL de RUYTER engraved on the top. Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March 1607 – 29 April 1676) was a Dutch States Navy officer. His achievements with the Dutch navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars earned him the reputation as the greatest naval commander of 17th century Europe. He had NINE different ships named after him, and we think this pistol is named after the first, Admiraal de Ruijter, a 68-gun Batavian ship of the line that the British navy captured in the 1799 Vlieter incident and took into service as the 64-gun storeship HMS De Ruyter. She was on her way to Falmouth, Jamaica to serve as a prison hulk in September 1804 when the Antigua–Charleston hurricane caused her to be washed ashore and wrecked with the loss of one sailor. Being captured by the British definitely would explain the great condition of the pistol, taken as a war trophy after the ship was captured.

The pistol's overall length is about 15 1/4" and it has a large lanyard ring on the bottom of the brass mounted butt cap. All the mounts are brass and the overall condition is really nice. The stock does show wear overall from service, with scratches and small dents, and there is a wood graft repair on right side running from the nose cap back about 4 inches. The lock is fully functional, holding properly at half cock and only firing at full.

A great European Naval flintlock pistol, fully cleaned and ready to display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: c.1795
Caliber: .69" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 9 Inches
Overall Length: 15 1/4 Inches
Action: Flintlock
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.