Original Item: Only one available. This is a very rare "Queen Anne" style pistol with an iron frame and turn-off barrel, marked ↣ BIRCHETT ↢ on the right side of the frame under the flash pan and frizzen spring. We can also see a very faint LONDINI on the top of the breech frame. Per A. Merwyn Carey's work English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers: Middle Sixteenth Century to the End of the Nineteenth Century, this pistol was made by Edward Birchett, recorded as working in London 1700-1713. He was known for making steel barrel flintlock coach pistols with silver mountings and flintlock holster pistols. That makes this one of the earliest examples of a "Queen Anne" style pistol that we have had, made while she was still the reigning monarch!

The pistol features some fantastic decorative silver mountings, and was almost certainly made for a well off client. The butt cap is a lovely embossed silver grotesque mask, and there is a silver side plate showing lovely foliate motifs. There is even a lovely foliate silver escutcheon on the back of the grip, which would often be personalized, however this example is blank. 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 Proof house. Between these is a CROWN / EB stamp, for "Edward Birchett".

The pistol has some embossed floral designs on the flintlock hammer, with some more intricate designs around the breech, extending onto the barrel tang. It measures 13 1/4 inches in overall length, with a 6 1/4 inch screw off 0.65" bore two stage 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.

The English Walnut butt grip is lovely, and has some carving around the barrel tang and on the sides around the lock and side plates. The wood color is truly lovely, with what looks to almost be "burl" grain patterns, though there is a replaced chunk on the left side by the barrel, as well as some cracking in that area. 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 silver mountings are all still in great shape, and really add to the piece. The lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing only at full.

A truly lovely silver mounted very early "Queen Anne" flintlock pistol by a known London maker, in fine Collector's condition ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1710
Bore Diameter: approx. .65"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 6 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 13 1/4 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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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.

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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.