French pair of flintlockpistols of unknown origine

corrado26 · 29th April 2017, 11:28 AM

I have in my collection a nice pair of French flintlock pistols from ca 1750 to 1775, whose lockplates are marked with a "JF" under a exploding granade. My hope is that someone here is able to identify this mark.
Thanks a lot
corrado26

fernando · 30th April 2017, 05:01 PM

Very nice pistols, corrado.
Maybe a little later ... like beg. 18th century ... Napoleonic ?
No arsenal (manufacure) markins ... a private production ?

corrado26 · 30th April 2017, 06:07 PM

Yes, these are no arsenal products but privatly made pistols. You might be right that they are a little later, around the time of the Revolution, what could be the reason why there is no namely signature on the lockplates.
corrado26

Philip · 1st May 2017, 06:06 AM

I agree on a later dating, most likely final third of the 18th cent., and possibly a few years into the 19th. The shape of the butts on this pair is very similar to that of the regulation-pattern Modele 1763 cavalry pistol, as is the presence of a double-throated cock (an example of this gun can be seen in POLLARD'S HISTORY OF FIREARMS, line drawing p 119). You can contrast the butt with the earlier, brass-shod bulbous shape that preceded it (a French example from the first half of the 18th cent. can be seen in POLLARD'S , no. 79 second from top on photoplate, p 109).

Not only the cock, but the lockplate configuration (rounded tail, flat ahead of the cock), and the shape of the priming-pan, are also seen on larger locks attached to regulation-pattern French muskets of the late 18th cent. into the Napoleonic era. Interestingly enough, the overall lock style also appears on US martial long guns and pistols into the 1830s, by virtue of France's role in arming the rebellious colonies and providing material assistance (such as factory tooling) after the Revolution.

fernando · 1st May 2017, 12:38 PM

So it is plausible that these pistols are labeled as being from the PREMIER EMPIRE in some website out there

.

corrado26 · 2nd May 2017, 01:01 PM

Sorry, I cannot understand: Where did you see this pair of French pistols?
corrado26

29th April 2017, 11:28 AM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,206	French pair of flintlockpistols of unknown origine I have in my collection a nice pair of French flintlock pistols from ca 1750 to 1775, whose lockplates are marked with a "JF" under a exploding granade. My hope is that someone here is able to identify this mark. Thanks a lot corrado26 Attached Images

30th April 2017, 05:01 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Very nice pistols, corrado. Maybe a little later ... like beg. 18th century ... Napoleonic ? No arsenal (manufacure) markins ... a private production ?

30th April 2017, 06:07 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,206	Yes, these are no arsenal products but privatly made pistols. You might be right that they are a little later, around the time of the Revolution, what could be the reason why there is no namely signature on the lockplates. corrado26

1st May 2017, 06:06 AM	#4
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	I agree on a later dating, most likely final third of the 18th cent., and possibly a few years into the 19th. The shape of the butts on this pair is very similar to that of the regulation-pattern Modele 1763 cavalry pistol, as is the presence of a double-throated cock (an example of this gun can be seen in POLLARD'S HISTORY OF FIREARMS, line drawing p 119). You can contrast the butt with the earlier, brass-shod bulbous shape that preceded it (a French example from the first half of the 18th cent. can be seen in POLLARD'S , no. 79 second from top on photoplate, p 109). Not only the cock, but the lockplate configuration (rounded tail, flat ahead of the cock), and the shape of the priming-pan, are also seen on larger locks attached to regulation-pattern French muskets of the late 18th cent. into the Napoleonic era. Interestingly enough, the overall lock style also appears on US martial long guns and pistols into the 1830s, by virtue of France's role in arming the rebellious colonies and providing material assistance (such as factory tooling) after the Revolution.

1st May 2017, 12:38 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So it is plausible that these pistols are labeled as being from the PREMIER EMPIRE in some website out there .

2nd May 2017, 01:01 PM	#6
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,206	Sorry, I cannot understand: Where did you see this pair of French pistols? corrado26