Project Description
!!!!!RETURNED TO CONSIGNOR!!!!! This is a cased pair of antique Tatham of London flintlock, folding trigger, screw off barrel, all steel muff pistols with safeties, probably made circa 1810. These are not true miniatures, but are in reality just very small pistols used for concealed carry in a ladies’ garter or muff, or a gentleman’s pants or vest pocket. 3 1/2″ long overall with 7/8″ round screw off barrels of about .187 caliber. The barrels with a lug which would have engaged a special wrench to remove the barrels when stuck. The barrels with some decorative hand engraving at both the muzzle and breech ends. The left sides of the pistols hand engraved “Tatham”, along with some hand engraved floral and scroll work behind the name and at the butt. The right side of each pistol hand engraved “London, also with engraved floral and scroll work behind the name and at the butt. The sculpted hammers have both half and full cock with some border engraving at the base. The top jaw also with some border engraving. The sculpted frizzens with some engraved border detail. The safeties are on the top of the pistols and have a pin that when pushed forward locks the frizzen in place, thus making the pistol safe. The tops of the safeties finely engraved. There is some border engraving on each side of the backstrap flowing underneath and forward around the folding trigger. There is also some scroll engraving around the rear tang screw. The bottom of the frame just behind the barrel has two proof marks. All steel construction and probably originally finished in a beautiful fire blue, they are now a pleasing patina gray brown with very little to no pitting or etching of the metal. The pistols are mechanically excellent with crisp actions, working safeties, and easily removable barrels. The pair of pistols are exactly the same, condition wise, and look to have been kept together for their entire existence. Complete with a nice antique, most likely non-original, hinged top walnut casing with push button latch. The casing lid with inlaid brass top corners, three inlaid brass border lines, and an inlaid engraved brass ovalish escutcheon. Tatham was one of London’s finest gunmakers during the early 1800’s, and their work is highly sought after by collectors of such arms. The workmanship on these pistols is first rate in every way, and you just have to see them “in hand” to truly appreciate them! Stock# PD-1. !!!!!RETURNED TO CONSIGNOR!!!!!
