Unidentified pistol

[corrado26]

I found nearly the same pistol in the collection of Dutch pistols of Robert E. Brooker in the U.S.
The only thing that is missing is the belt hook device. It also shows what he describes as intertwined Cs what I think is the VOC mark. The barrel ring and the style of the butt is absolutely the same.
By the way, this type of pistol has nothing to do with the French M an 9 - the differences are too numerous.
Brookers dating of this pistol with 1815 is much too late
corrado26

[kai]

Hello Udo,

It also shows what he describes as intertwined Cs what I think is the VOC mark.

Even considering that genuine VOC marks do show quite a bit of variation, this most likely isn't one: While any mark might arguably be tough to struck neatly on a round barrel, the left letter's lower "arm" clearly stops rather than fading out; thus, this can be an "inverted" C but not an O which would be needed on the left (of the V)...

Also the additional vestigial smaller "features" just don't line up with any VOC mark I've come across.

For the time being, I'd go with Brooker's "intertwined Cs" hypothesis. Any close-up of his example?

Regards,
Kai