A FINE & RARE DUBLIN HALLMARKED REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD SILVER MOUNTED OFFICER’S PISTOL BY S. WALLACE, ca. 1770s: In overall fine, original flintlock condition. The octagonal to round, slightly flared, iron, .63 caliber, smoothbore, 7 1/4″, barrel with a wedding-band transition, two (post 1750) Dublin Proof marks and a “S. W.” maker’s mark, for Samuel Wallace. Scroll engraved breech and tang: the top of the breech with a worn “DUBLIN” address. Molded and carved, nicely figured, dark walnut stock of typical Georgian design with a “Queen Ann-type” bulbous butt and relief carved teardrops around the lock and sideplate: the barrel-tang with a rococo scallop shell carving. Scroll engraved, flat, sidelock flintlock mechanism with a bridled powder-pan and a matching gooseneck hammer. The face of the lock, hammer and frizzen-back engraved, en suite. Marked, under the powder-pan, with a clear “Wallace” signature: Samuel Wallace of Dublin, Ireland (please see E. Heer’s: “Der Neue Stockel”, vol. 2). Fine quality, deeply embossed, full silver mounts: the trigger-guard and rear of the butt-cap with Dublin silver hallmarks. Grotesque mask butt-cap with a deeply embossed pug’s face, an oval wrist-escutcheon with a finely engraved border and an “G.D” owner’s initials, two barrel-type ramrod pipes and an engraved openwork sideplate of classic Georgian-form. Early type silver trigger-guard with an embossed Barley Husk forward finial and an engraved Tudor Rose, on its bow. In overall fine original flintlock condition. The barrel with smooth, steel-gray surfaces with scattered discoloration and fine pitting overall: clear proof and maker’s marks. The lock and hammer with matching steel-gray surfaces and all of their original components: fine mechanics with a strong mainspring. Near excellent stock with sharp contours, very light handling marks and 95%+ finish. Deeply embossed silver mounts with rare Dublin, Ire. silver Hallmarks on the trigger-guard and butt-cap. A very well made and fine quality example of an Irish Hallmarked, Silver Mounted, Flintlock Officer’s Pistol”, ca. 1770s. Original? horn tip wooden ramrod. Overall length, 13″.
Images and description courtesy of Paul’s Antique Arms & Armour at: http://www.ambroseantiques.com/fpistols.htm