Original Item: One of a Kind. These early heavy flintlock pistols are always very hard to find. This is in fact only the second one that company director Christian Cranmer has ever encountered. He never liked that they were never fitted with Butt Caps, but that was his own choice nevertheless.
This substantial flintlock pistol has the lock traditionally marked with CROWN over G.R., with TOWER across the lock plate tail. It also has the correct “Lock Viewer’s” mark under the flash pan. The pistol features a 10″ huge .75 bore barrel, the same as a line muskets of the day, which has the correct CROWN / GR and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS proofs for manufacture in Birmingham, England. It also has all brass mounts, of course without butt cap.
It is covered in various stamping denoting Trooper’s number H / 49 on the trigger guard and faintly now on the bottom of wood stock 2.D. and a very small R S G for ROYAL SCOTS GREYS. The pistol comes with its original all steel ramrod. The pistol is in very fine condition overall with a fully functional lock.
This type of pistol was issued only to the HEAVY BRIGADE, which included the 2nd DRAGOONS, known as the ROYAL SCOTS GREYS. Raised by CHARLES II in 1681 as THE ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARDS, it was renamed in 1707 by QUEEN ANNE as THE ROYAL NORTH HEAVY DRAGOONS. In 1713 it was renamed again, as the 2ND DRAGOONS, THE ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.
They served through the Seven Years War 1756-1763 but are best known for their time in the Peninsula War and at THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO in 1815. They arrived on the morning of the battle and joined the Earl of Uxbridge’s (Wellington’s Second in Command ) “UNION BRIGADE” The Scots Greys traditionally rode on white mounts, referred to as “GREYS” and were Commanded by MAJOR GENERAL SIR WILLIAM PONSONBY, 1772-1815, who was killed by a French Lancer in the Battle, the Regiment taking a mass of casualties.
At the time Marshall Nye, Napoleon’s top Cavalry commander referred to the SCOTS GREYS as:
THE FINEST CAVALRY IN EUROPE AND THE WORST LED
A sad epitaph but a very rare British Heavy Cavalry Pistol which may very well have seen action at the Great Battle of WATERLOO. Ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1800
Caliber: .75″ Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 9 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 15 1/2 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.