A little pistol for comments

[fernando]

A little (pocket?) pistol with 19 cms (7 1/2") total length.
Patilha (Miquelete) lock.
Barrel, part three upper faces and part 16 faces.
Breech florals, side plate, trigger guard, estucheon, buttcap and grotesque face mask all in decorated silver.
Caliber 15 mm.
Ramrod missing.
Questions:
Age ... 18th century?
Origin ... Portuguese, Spanish or French with a Spanish lock?
Anyone care to comment?

Fernando

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[fernando]

One more

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[KuKulzA28]

Looks cool! Would it be considered a derringer?

[Matchlock]

Hi Fernando,

Though this is not as old as most pieces that am headed for I like your little pistol, especially the nicely constrasting blackened stock and the embossed silver inlays. Most of all, however, I admire the perfectly homgeneous surface patina.

I tend to assigning it to either Spain or Portugal, ca. 1730-50 but will look up what little I can find in my humble library (not a joke because I am not really overfed with books on Italian, Spanish and Portuguese arms). Also: I should not totally rule out Southern Italy as a possible provenance.

Best wishes,
Michael

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Fernando,

Though this is not as old as most pieces that am headed for I like your little pistol, especially the nicely constrasting blackened stock and the embossed silver inlays. Most of all, however, I admire the perfectly homgeneous surface patina.

I tend to assigning it to either Spain or Portugal, ca. 1730-50 but will look up what little I can find in my humble library (not a joke because I am not really overfed with books on Italian, Spanish and Portuguese arms). Also: I should not totally rule out Southern Italy as a possible provenance.

Best wishes,
Michael

Oh, thank you Michael
I never thought your attention would contemplate 'young' pieces like this one.
I note your point about the Italian possibility.
Amazing how a person from my neighbourhood (not Rainer ) so firmly sugests this is a French export production with a Spanish lock .

[kahnjar1]

Hi Fernando,
ANOTHER wonderful piece!! You certainly come across some very interesting items.
I would call it either a pocket pistol or perhaps more likely what was popularly called a travelling pistol.
I personally would not call it a derringer.
Regards Stuart

[fernando]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Looks cool! Would it be considered a derringer?

I guess not, for a couple reasons. Derringers are an Americanism, and first appeared in the 1850's, with the percussion system, later than flintlock, as this example.
Fernando