[corrado26]

I want to add two pictures of captain Blackbird which demonstrate how he probably used to wear his armament. The following text I found in my archives but unfortunately don't know its author!

These 'Queen Anne' pistols have always recalled Blackbeard, and the 'Golden Age' of piracy. They are believed to have begun in England during the reign of Queen Anne (r. 1702-1707) but of course there may be more to it, also the term remained loosely applied to these type of pistols long into the 18th c.

Blackbeard, in the popularized illustrations, seems to typically be wearing several braces of what appear to be these 'Queen Anne' type pistols, but I have not found much in detail that substantiates that romanticized notion. It is presumed of course that obviously, with single shot pistols, and that these had to be dismantled (usually with 'turn off' barrels screwed off), that one in his 'line of work' would need multiple shot capacity, thus the number of them.

What is hard to imagine is that he somehow obtained not one pair (brace) of them, but up to three, and all seemingly matched. In paintings of his 'final action' vs. Lt. Maynard in 1718 off Ocracoke, N.C. he is shown with these pistols in place on his belts, while he fights with his sword. Why would these remain attached unfired? but that is artistic license.

Pirates of course used sundry weapons obtained through all manner of acquisition, and any sort of matching or 'typical' weaponry is mostly unlikely if not simply assumed or imagined.

Still, I would like to consider if this weapon, by a London maker might have been in use in the time of Blackbeard. While we know it is 'of the type' , and these were produced well into the 18th c., often even using earlier preferred styles, sometimes amalgamated with later, such as 'rococo' decoration ...it is interesting to try to consider.

John Harman (1693-1760) was apparently apprentice to Henry Antonison with James Freeman, and was 'turned over' to James Shaw in 1707. It is noted (Burgoyne, 2002, p.29-30) that he was 'free' of the gunmakers co. in 1714.
He worked at the 'Cross Guns over against Norfolk Street in the Strand' from 1718-45, and was gunmaker to Frederick, Prince of Wales from 1729.

As this pistol has the crowned proof and viewers marks (P and V) we would presume the gun was made prior to 1714, if by being 'free' on the Gunmakers Co. (of London) in 1714 means he was no longer 'under their jurisdiction'.
However the grotesque face (or pugnosed) was apparently first used by Turvey (London) c. 1720.
Silversmiths of course produced these elements privately, so it may be possible that James Shuder had begun using that form earlier, but that seems unlikely unless it is simply that Turvey was a more profoundly known maker than Harman.


The Blackbeard Image and Queen Anne pistols
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Just thinking more on the depictions of Blackbeard, and the appearance of usually six pistols worn in some sort of bandolier(s) somewhat consistently. It would seem that these pistols may represent 'Queen Anne's ' by the butt shape and plates. In my previous post I wondered if perhaps the pistol of the OP may be of the period including Blackbeard (d. 1718) or if perhaps artistic license is at hand.

The beginning source for 'Blackbeard' would best be construed as by the mysterious Capt. Charles Johnson's "General History of the Pyrates" (1724).
Apparently he took accounts from various persons, including Israel Hands, the mate in Blackbeards crew.
According to an account by Henry Bostock (Capt. of the ship 'Margaret' captured by Blackbeard) given Dec. 19, 1717:
"...he was dressed in a long sea captain coat, crossed by two belts-a sword belt and a bandlolier-while three brace of pistols hung from improvised holsters over his chest. He wore a small brown fur cap* with two small lengths of match poked out behind each ear"

*this was probably what was known as a 'thrummed cap', worn by sailors in cold weather...but as he was in Caribbean, odd. In first version of Johnson's book the cap is shown, but later changed to a tricorn hat.

The tricorn hat seems more in line with the fashions of c.1720s, and I am thinking perhaps that the following illustrations of Blackbeard, following the style context with the hat. might follow the pistols as well.

It is known that other pirates wore pistols in similar fashion, but it seems they often used ribbon tied around the handles as with the case of 'Black Sam Bellamy' (note the 'Black' appellation, cf. 'Blackbeard') . He and Blackbeard were both in the crew of Benjamin Hornigold c. 1716.
In Feb. 1717 he became captain of the captured English slaver "Whydah".
In an account on Bellamy, it was said he always wore black coats (hence 'Black' Sam) and had four 'dueling pistols' in his sash.

The Whydah wrecked in April 1717 off Cape Cod, and in 2004 wreck was found. One of the relics was a 'Sun King' (Sonnenkönig Louis XIV) pistol, which still had silk ribbon tied around it, as it was known some pirates did, and draped them around their necks. It would seem unlikely that four full size pistols (of the probable French cavalry size c. 1710 =sun king?) would carry well in his sash, so perhaps two on a ribbon?