Another pair of Q. Anne pistols

NeilUK · 21st October 2016, 12:11 PM

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

corrado26 · 21st October 2016, 03:28 PM

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

Pukka Bundook · 22nd October 2016, 02:12 PM

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.

NeilUK · 23rd October 2016, 01:39 PM

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

Pukka Bundook · 23rd October 2016, 02:11 PM

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

Andreas · 23rd October 2016, 05:32 PM

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.

Pukka Bundook · 24th October 2016, 06:39 AM

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.

NeilUK · 24th October 2016, 11:31 PM

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

NeilUK · 25th October 2016, 11:44 AM

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

David · 25th October 2016, 10:27 PM

https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca...-owners/BEC002

NeilUK · 26th October 2016, 04:33 PM

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

Pukka Bundook · 26th October 2016, 08:02 PM

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.

21st October 2016, 12:11 PM	#1
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 125	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 Attached Images

23rd October 2016, 01:39 PM	#4
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 125	Thanks, Richard. Here is a bigger and better photo of the escutcheon. Hope your colleague can discover something. Neil Attached Images

25th October 2016, 10:27 PM	#10
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,120	https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca...-owners/BEC002 Attached Images

21st October 2016, 03:28 PM	#2
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	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

22nd October 2016, 02:12 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	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.

23rd October 2016, 02:11 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	OK Neil, I'll as Bill. Thank you for the close up. That should be good enough!

23rd October 2016, 05:32 PM	#6
Andreas Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ionian Islands, Greece Posts: 96	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.

24th October 2016, 06:39 AM	#7
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	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.

24th October 2016, 11:31 PM	#8
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 125	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

25th October 2016, 11:44 AM	#9
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 125	I forgot to say that the trigger guards can slide forwards at half-cock to act as a safety catch. Neil

26th October 2016, 04:33 PM	#11
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 125	Wow, Thanks David, that's brilliant and confirms the suggestions of Richard and Andreas. Kind regards. Neil

26th October 2016, 08:02 PM	#12
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	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.