George III Silver Mounted Flintlock Holster Pistol Signed “Walsingham” Circa 1764.

8 inch octagonal to round barrel. 65 caliber. Signed, stepped, engraved front action lock. Engraved swan neck hammer. Bridled frizzen. Pan with drain. Full engraved silver mounts comprising triggerguard, spurred buttcap with grotesque mask pommel, magnificent cast and chased sideplate with trophies of arms, a sea serpent, and helmeted warrior, thumbpiece with trophies of arms bordered all around by delicate silver wire tendrils.

Figured walnut full stock with shell carving around breech tang. Barrel is heaving patinated and untouched with gunmakers’ proofs. Lock is patinated with very minor pitting but engraving is visible as is maker’s signature. Silver mounts with minor wear but all silver wire intact. Acorn finial of triggerguard with minute screw. Walnut stock with minor marks and minute loss below tail of lock plate. Ramrod is seized. Action works on both half and full cock.

The form of this pistol is elegant and the silver sideplate a masterpiece of the silversmith’s art. Pistols such as this were carried by wealthy American and British officers in the Revolutionary War. A silver mounted pair owned by General George Washington by Hawkins were carried by him during the Revolution and are now on display at the West Point Museum.