Original Items: Only One Pair Available. This is an exceptionally attractive matched pair of early 19th century Spanish belt pistols made in the great Basque gunmaking center of Eibar and dated 1821. Both pistols carry the clear punzón of celebrated Eibar gunmaker Antonio Guisasola, together with silver inlaid FABRICADO / EN EIBAR / ANO D 1821 inscriptions, gold highlighted decorative work, large approximately 14 bore smoothbore barrels, external spring patilla locks now configured for percussion ignition, and 3" iron belt hooks. Their matching architecture, decoration, dimensions, and dated inscriptions make them a particularly impressive pair of Basque sporting or officer style pistols.

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.

Eibar and the surrounding Basque gunmaking districts of northern Spain were renowned for high quality arms production during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Rather than a single factory manufacturing every component, Spanish arms of this period were often produced through a specialized trade in which barrel makers, lock makers, stockers, and furniture makers contributed individual parts. The surviving touchmarks on this pair reflect that traditional system.

Both barrels carry the crowned punzón of Antonio Guisasola:

(Crown)
ANT
GVI
SAS
OLA

Antonio de Guisasola was a respected Eibar gunmaker active from the late 18th century into the 1830s. His work is represented in major European arms collections, and surviving references record him as an accomplished maker of high quality firearms during this period.

Each barrel is additionally inlaid in silver:

FABRICADO
EN EIBAR
ANO D 1821

clearly identifying Eibar manufacture and dating the pair to 1821.

The trigger guards carry a separate uncrowned punzón:

L A
R R A
N A
G A

This marking points to the Basque Larrañaga gunmaking tradition. We have not identified the exact individual craftsman responsible for these trigger guards, but the separate mark is consistent with the highly specialized nature of the Eibar trade, in which individual gunmakers or component makers could sign different parts of the same finished arm.

Each pistol measures approximately:

12 1/2" overall
7 3/8" barrel

The smoothbore barrels measure approximately .70" at the muzzle, corresponding roughly to 14 bore.

The barrels are of handsome two stage construction, with octagonal breeches transitioning into round forward sections and terminating in cannon style muzzles. Their substantial proportions give the pair an imposing appearance despite their relatively compact overall length.

The upper flats of the octagonal breech sections carry the silver inlaid Eibar and 1821 inscriptions. Additional gold inlaid fleur-de-lis decoration appears on the barrel facets, with further engraving and gold work around the transition from octagonal to round. The contrast between the dark iron surfaces, silver inscriptions, and surviving gold decoration gives these pistols considerably more refinement than ordinary utilitarian belt arms.

The present ignition system is percussion. Each pistol has a percussion bolster at the rear right of the barrel with a nipple or cone that remains in excellent condition and shows little apparent erosion from firing.

The locks retain the characteristic external mainspring and patilla architecture derived from the Spanish miquelet system. By the early 19th century, Spanish makers continued using this familiar external spring lock form even as percussion ignition began replacing flint. Period Spanish references specifically describe percussion patilla locks as an evolutionary continuation of the traditional miquelet mechanism.

Because the pistols are dated 1821, when high quality commercial flintlock manufacture was still fully established in Eibar, it is possible that they began life as flintlock miquelets and were converted to percussion at a later date. However, the surviving locks do not provide enough physical evidence to prove that sequence with certainty. We therefore describe them as percussion miquelet or patilla pistols and leave their original ignition configuration open.

Both locks remain mechanically functional during careful manual inspection. Each holds at half cock and releases from full cock. One pistol, however, requires unusually heavy trigger pressure to release from full cock because the sear does not retract quite far enough during normal operation. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that either pistol is safe to load or fire.

The iron furniture is comparatively restrained but well finished. Decorative engraving is concentrated on the trigger guard bows, around the Larrañaga touchmarks, and on the finials. Each grip has an iron backstrap running from the barrel tang to the base of the grip, where it broadens to form the butt cap. Additional engraving appears on the locks, particularly along the bridle over the external mainspring, as well as on the percussion bolsters.

Each pistol retains a 3" iron belt hook, reinforcing their intended portability and making them especially well suited to mounted or personal carry.

Iron tipped wooden ramrods remain beneath both barrels. The iron tips are relatively small in relation to the bore diameter, and the tip on one ramrod fits loosely enough that it can come off the wooden shaft. We cannot determine whether these ramrods are original to manufacture or later service replacements.

The stocks are in good condition overall and have developed an attractive warm brown color. The grip areas are heavily checkered, providing both decoration and a secure hold. One pistol shows cracking and old repairs along the left side near the barrel wood line. A forward section of wood has also been grafted in as part of a past repair. Both stocks appear to have received a relatively recent varnish finish, giving them an attractive semi gloss appearance while still allowing the underlying grain and older service wear to remain visible.

With their matched 1821 Eibar inscriptions, clear Antonio Guisasola touchmarks, separate Larrañaga furniture marks, extensive silver and gold inlay, approximately 14 bore cannon form barrels, external spring patilla locks, belt hooks, and handsome checkered stocks, this is an unusually decorative and historically interesting pair of Spanish pistols. Whether originally made as flintlocks and later converted or built in an early percussion configuration, they embody the high level of craftsmanship for which the Basque gun trade was famous and would make an outstanding addition to a collection of Spanish arms, miquelet pistols, Eibar gunmaking, or finely decorated early 19th century European firearms.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1821
Caliber: .70" pistol - 14 Bore
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 7 3/8 inches
Overall Length: 12 1/2 inches
Action: Miquelet Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

History of the Miquelet Lock:
Miquelet lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, for a type of firing mechanism used in muskets and pistols. It is a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, once prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain's colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries.

The term miquelet lock was not recorded until the 19th century, long after the appearance of the mechanism in the 16th century, and is of uncertain origin. One commonly held view is that it was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the style of musket used by the Miquelet (militia) that had been assigned to the Peninsular Army of the Duke of Wellington.

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.