19th Century Ornate Colonial Military Pistol

Here we have a pistol that would interest any collector of British Colonial militaria.

What we have here is a pistol that appears to have been made by a cottage gunsmith to copy a British Land Pattern Cavalry Pistol with an octagonal barrel.

The pistol has been made functional but is also highly decorative, being covered in inlaid mother of pearl shapes.

The lock plate has been crudely manufactured to look like a British one with the gunsmith going so far as to attempt to copy Queen Victoria’s Crown.

The barrel appears to have been given an acid wash to imitate Damascus.

The trigger, whilst fully functional is offset from the centre and is off to the left of the pistol.

Unfortunately the screw and upper part of the flint clamp is missing.

The trigger actually speaks most of the workings, it being clear this was made without the same quality control or tools but at the same time coming out with a fully functional copy of what was at the time a modern firearm, a very impressive feat.

For what it is I think this is a very nice and extremely decorative pistol made during the height of the British Colonial Rule and quite possibly for an Indian joining the British forces in India. The pistol was made by a man who was most likely not a gunsmith who created a firearm based off what the Land Pattern Cavalry Pistol looked like, not an easy task by any stretch.

~ Dimensions ~

The barrel is 9 inches (23 cm) long.

The pistol is 15.5 inches (39 cm) long.

The pistol weighs 1.08 Kg.

~ Condition ~

This pistol is in a fair condition for its age considering it has likely travelled from British India.

The decorative mother of pearl all seems to be firmly in place.

The pistol s firing mechanism works.

The pistol is missing the screw and upper part of the flint clamp.

There is rust and pitting to the inside of the barrel.

There is minor wear to the outer metalwork.

ref. GS72103ED / PQBHBZPX