REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD AMERICAN FLINTLOCK “KENTUCKY PISTOL”

A VERY RARE COLONIAL/AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR AMERICAN FLINTLOCK “KENTUCKY PISTOL”(ATTRIBUTED TO AN AMERICAN GUNSMITH – LANCASTER SCHOOL), ca. 1760:

In overall fine, untouched original flintlock condition and of early, American “Kentucky Pistol” form. Round, smoothbore, pin-fastened, .45 caliber, 9″, iron barrel with a wedding-band barrel transition to the tang. Retains generally smooth, dark gray-colored surfaces that is untouched. The barrel is imported from Birmingham, England and has the Birmingham proof marks. (see Birmingham proof notation below.)

Early Colonial American Gunsmith design. Fine stock of early form with a curved grip and engraved pommel. Full Brass mounts that are Colonial American make. Screw-retained butt-cap with a decorated pommel and a matching, integral, rear tang. A pierced American style sideplate with both of its iron sidebolts.

The trigger-guard is bow shaped and has an engraved flower of classic “Lancaster School)” form. Made with ramrod-pipes and complete with its original wooden (hickory) ramrod. Unsigned, flat & beveled, lock of Colonial American manufacture with its original components: of similar style to other recorded examples. Original bridle-less powder-pan, gooseneck hammer, rounded frizzen and teardrop finial frizzen-spring.

In fine untouched original flintlock condition. Retains smooth, iron and brass surfaces. The wood (maple) shows slight signs of use and has an age-stain on the grip.

A very rare example of a Colonial/Revolutionary War Period American Flintlock “Kentucky” Pistol (attributed to Lancaster School) ca. 1760. Overall length, 14″.

Birmingham Barrel Notation

The Crossed Sceptres & Crown Mark

by Brian Godwin & John Evans

The most common proof mark encountered on early Birmingham arms is the Crowned P and V within an ova

During the early 18th century Birmingham and its surrounding area emerged as Britain’s industrial heartland. Birmingham’s continued development as a center for the production of metal-based goods was due to the combination of two key factors. First there were substantial local reserves of raw materials in the form of coal and iron ore. Second, a complex design network was developed by renowned engineers, Literally thousand of firearm barrels and other iron parts were exported to American during the mid-18^th century (prior to 1775).

From Margie and Gordon Barlow Collection  – See – “Virginia in the Revolutionary War” by Margie and Gordon Barlow