Original Dutch Napoleonic Flintlock Naval Pistol marked to Ship Willem de Eerste, Vlissingen – circa 1790 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Belgium as we know it today was only established in 1830, when the population rebelled against Dutch rule. Prior to that, most of the country had been known as Flanders and other local areas, which were possessions of Spain, France and Holland over the prior several hundreds of years. Belgium was an Industrial powerhouse with its great capacity coming from the City of Liège, where gun making was a key industry supplying Military Weapons all over Europe.

The Flintlock pistol offered here was most likely manufactured in Liège in the late 19th century for the Netherlands Navy. Pistols of this type were in wide use in Belgium itself, as well as other Countries and the Civilian Market. This is a substantial brass mounted walnut stocked completely standard Military Flintlock Pistol of the day. The design was robust, and saw use for decades, particularly during the Napoleonic wars. The belt hook in particular made it very easy to keep secured.

It is marked clearly on the top of the barrel with WILLEM de EERSTE VLISSINGEN, and there is also a small CROWN / B Proof by the breech. The lock plate is simply marked (CROWN) / W at the top, and there is an H / (ANCHOR) marking on the back of the wrist. This is definitely a naval issue pistol, and looks to have been used on the ship “Willem de Eerste (Willam the First), a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the navy of the Dutch Republic, the Batavian Republic, and the Royal Netherlands Navy. It bore this name until 1795, after which it was renamed BRUTUS, and took part in the Battle of Camperdown. She saw further service later in the French navy, before being returned to the Netherlands after the wars were over. “Vlissingen” is a major port city on the North Sea in the Netherlands. Definitely some fantastic research potential in this pistol.

The pistol is in very good condition, showing a lovely patina of age. It has been lightly cleaned and polished to put it into its best light. The lock functions correctly, holding at half cock and only firing at full cock. There are no major breaks or damage in the stock that we can see, just a crack near the rear lock screw, and another by the left side barrel wedge escutcheon. The wood looks to be beech or maybe walnut, with a great color, and it has fantastic “Tiger flame” figured grain throughout! This is really a fantastic looking pistol!

Fully cleaned and ready to display and research!

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: circa 1790
Caliber: .67″ Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 9 Inches
Overall Length: 15 1/2 Inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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