Nominally .58 caliber smoothbore (pistol bore), flaring to about .8". 9.75" pinned swamped octagon to round barrel with cannon muzzle. NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot flintlock muzzleloading pistol made without sights and with a captive swivel ramrod secured by two brass pipes. Bolted and stepped flint ock is engraved "J Richards" below the integral rounded, fenced and bridled pan. Faceted swan neck cock with sliding safety. Lock remains in orignal flint. Breech with London Gunmaker's proofs and the "IR" maker mark of John Richards (I). Nocksform engraved "I RICHARDS STRAND LONDON".

John Richards worked in London circa 1775-1821. He was at 114 Strand 1775-1777, at 25 Strand 1778-1780, then moving to 4 Ball Alley, Lombard Street. He returend to the Strand at #54 from 1782-1808 and spent the last years of his career at 55 Strand from 1809-1821. An attractive cannon muzzle pistol from the late 18th or early 19th century by a well known London maker. {ANTIQUE}

Good. Bore dark and dirty with heavy oxidation and some surface rust. Metal with moderate oxidation, scattered discoloration and some scattered light to moderate pitting. Markings on lock clear, weaker on barrel. Lock remains in original flint, as does the barrel. Lock is mechanically functional, as is the sliding, bolted safety. Wood very good, fairly crisp with scattered bumps, dings and mars and some cracking in the highly figured section of wood below the front of the lock mortise.