Another pair of Q. Anne pistols
 

For those suffering withdrawal symptoms after enjoying Corrado's collection here is a pair by William Paris of Warwick, the grandson of the more famous Nicholas Paris. The pistols date to c.1740 and on each escutcheon is engraved the owner's crest - a long-necked bird (heron? but only the neck is displayed) with a small fish in its beak. If anyone can discover what family bore this crest I would be most interested to know.
Regards to all. Neil

A very nice pair of later Queen-Anne-pistols with the later form of the trigger guards. Unfortunately I'm not able to say to which British family the crest at the thumbplates belonged but yet many thanks for the fotos.

corrado26

Lovely pistols Neil! Very nice to see and thank you. Lovely condition.

Arms look a bit like those of W'm Beckwith, (Once Lord Mayor of London)
I don't have a copy of Peel's Peerage though.
Can you post a close-up for a better look?
With your permission, I could send such a photo to a good friend back home who has the appropriate references. (If no-one here has a ready answer.)

The escutcheon is of a style I have not seen before.
Congrats again Neil!

Richard.

Thanks, Richard. Here is a bigger and better photo of the escutcheon.
Hope your colleague can discover something.
Neil

OK Neil, I'll as Bill.
Thank you for the close up. That should be good enough!

A heron's head erased holding in his beak a fish, very possibly the crest of the Beckford family, from England and Jamaica. William Beckford was Lord Mayor of London in the 1760's (probably the "Beckwith" Richard meant), but I suppose there would be other members of the family as candidates.

Andreas,

In my post above, I mistakenly wrote "Beckwith" when I meant "Beckford"!
I hadn't written the reference down and got it wrong (!)

Thank you for correcting me!

Neil,

I asked Bill, and he checked 1,950 plates in Fairburns Crests and found nothing quite the same.
Still I am sure Andreas has it!

Best,
Richard.

Richard and Andreas - many thanks for your efforts. I have made a note of Wm Beckford, Lord Mayor of London, or one of his close family (father or son only, to fit the date of the pistols), as original owner.
My kind regards to you both.
Neil

I forgot to say that the trigger guards can slide forwards at half-cock to act as a safety catch.
Neil

Wow, Thanks David, that's brilliant and confirms the suggestions of Richard and Andreas. Kind regards.
Neil

Neil,

You don't have to worry about the differences in the engravings, as this was largely up to the engraver to interpret.

Best,
R.