Indian, 19th Century, East India Company Early Percussion Dragoon Pistol, Obsolete Calibre

*Indian, 19th Century, East India Company Early Percussion Dragoon Pistol, Obsolete Calibre*

The East India Company (EIC) was a British, joint-stock company founded in 1600. Initially established to trade in the Indian Ocean region, it focused on the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) and later expanded to trade with Qing China. The company seized control of significant parts of the Indian subcontinent, colonized parts of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong after the First Opium War, and maintained trading posts and colonies in the Persian Gulf Residencies. It governed large parts of India on behalf of the British government for many years.

This 19th-century Indian Percussion Cap Dragoon Pistol features an octagonal steel barrel measuring approximately 18.5 cm. Designed for use on horseback, it originally included a lanyard ring (now missing) and a hinged ramrod. Modeled after the British New Land Pattern cavalry pistol widely produced by 1802, this East India Company pattern is distinguished by its flat butt plate. The lock plate bears the East India Company rampant lion motif, which was discontinued after 1859 when the British Crown took over governance in India, ruling until India's independence in 1947. The absence of English proof markings suggests it was assembled in the East India Company's arsenals in India. The walnut stock is ornately inlaid with geometric mother-of-pearl motifs, and it features a brass trigger guard with an extended tang and a flat brass butt cap. It also has a captive steel ramrod.

Condition
This pistol is in excellent condition, with all inlays intact except for one small piece on the side of the barrel (as pictured). The captive steel rod is loose, and the lanyard ring is missing. It cocks and dry-fires effectively. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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