Very High Quality Long Dutch Or German Flintlock Holster Pistol Circa 1720 With Rare Rifled Barrel.

14 inch two stage barrel, .64 caliber, swamped at muzzle. Brass foresight surrounded by engraved foliage. 4 inch relief inlaid brass panel at breech with foliage spewing from a grotesque mask. Brass rear sight on the engraved brass breech tang. Convex banana shape lock finely engraved with foliage and dragon head. Swan neck cock engraved ensuite with dragon head. Faceted cock screw. Faceted pan. Finely filed frizzen spring. Beautifully sculpted frizzen with line engraving and relief chiseled acanthus leaf. Faceted top jaw and faceted jaw screw.

Relief engraved decorated full brass mounts comprising French pattern book openwork sideplate with writhing dragon and Roman helmeted portrait bust. Finely cast and chased triggerguard. Early style curled trigger. Spurred buttcap cast and chased in relief with leafy foliage terminating in a grotesque mask. Lovely figured walnut full stock with raised carving throughout.

Condition is excellent for a 300 year old flintlock pistol. One crack in breech tang otherwise really wonderful condition, Stock carving is of a very high order and apart from minor expected handling marks is superb. Action is good on full and half cock with strong spring. Spiral rifled bore is excellent and a very rare feature. Horn tipped ramrod matches the horn fore-end and likely original.

This is a far above average high art early 18th century European flintlock holster pistol. A full 21 inches in length.