Cavalry pistol made by Claude Niquet à Liège

corrado26 · 14th November 2020, 11:20 AM

This flintlock pistol with the clear signature of Claude Niquet of Liège around 1715 on its lockplate shows a thumbplate with a very strange and for me unknown troop marking "G.G. / N°42". This pistol is very similar to pistols made by Francois Pholien Henoul and Johann Jakob Behr for the Prussian army but unfortunately the troop marking of this pistol and the crown are certainly not Prussian. I think it could be Dutch. Is anybody able to affirm this?

Victrix · 16th November 2020, 01:05 PM

I’m not an expert on heraldry by any means but the crown looks like that of a Marquis of the French Ancien Régime?

corrado26 · 16th November 2020, 03:52 PM

Thanks a lot, I think you are right, this has been big help!!

Victrix · 16th November 2020, 11:33 PM

Nice pistol. The shield and the dragon decoration are interesting details.

cornelistromp · 21st November 2020, 01:01 PM

the simplicity in decoration shows that this is not a civilian weapon but a military weapon.
I expect this pistol was made for a division of the Dutch state army, it was customary to number the pistols, so at least 42 pieces of this Pistol were made.

The initials GG are those of the commander/owner of the relevant division or regiment.
The first G can stand for count (dutch Graaf = count) and the second G for the family name.

best,

SchildaBrit · 21st November 2020, 02:16 PM

The No. 42 was necessary because there were at least 41 others.
Not even the wildest pistol fan would have 42 weapons with his initials marked!
So if it was a personal weapon and GG were his initials, the 42 would be redundant.

I.e. GG must surely be a unit, not personal initials.

corrado26 · 21st November 2020, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

I expect this pistol was made for a division of the Dutch state army, it was customary to number the pistols, so at least 42 pieces of this Pistol were made.

The initials GG are those of the commander/owner of the relevant division or regiment.
The first G can stand for count (dutch Graaf = count) and the second G for the family name.

Thanks a lot. This affirms my guess that this pistol was really made for a Dutch military unit in the years 1710 to 1720. Certainly it will be difficult to find out which unit this might have been but I'll contact the Netherlands Army Museum, may be that there will be some support.

cornelistromp · 22nd November 2020, 11:04 AM

your are most welcome.

By coincidence I found a small piece published about this in the magazine of the Dutch Association of Arms Collectors, wapenfeiten nr4 november 2020.
unfortunately in Dutch.

corrado26 · 22nd November 2020, 03:15 PM

Many thanks for this - very interesting; this pistol once was part of my collection - a late meeting!! The explanation of the meaning of the two letters at the thumbplate is certainly hitting the nail's head. Now I have to find out which regiment in the Dutch army used the "G.G.".

14th November 2020, 11:20 AM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Cavalry pistol made by Claude Niquet à Liège This flintlock pistol with the clear signature of Claude Niquet of Liège around 1715 on its lockplate shows a thumbplate with a very strange and for me unknown troop marking "G.G. / N°42". This pistol is very similar to pistols made by Francois Pholien Henoul and Johann Jakob Behr for the Prussian army but unfortunately the troop marking of this pistol and the crown are certainly not Prussian. I think it could be Dutch. Is anybody able to affirm this? Attached Images

16th November 2020, 01:05 PM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 711	I’m not an expert on heraldry by any means but the crown looks like that of a Marquis of the French Ancien Régime? Attached Images

21st November 2020, 02:16 PM	#6
SchildaBrit Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 33	Unit, not name The No. 42 was necessary because there were at least 41 others. Not even the wildest pistol fan would have 42 weapons with his initials marked! So if it was a personal weapon and GG were his initials, the 42 would be redundant. I.e. GG must surely be a unit, not personal initials.

22nd November 2020, 11:04 AM	#8
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,058	your are most welcome. By coincidence I found a small piece published about this in the magazine of the Dutch Association of Arms Collectors, wapenfeiten nr4 november 2020. unfortunately in Dutch. Attached Images

16th November 2020, 03:52 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Thanks a lot, I think you are right, this has been big help!!

16th November 2020, 11:33 PM	#4
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 711	Nice pistol. The shield and the dragon decoration are interesting details.

21st November 2020, 01:01 PM	#5
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,058	the simplicity in decoration shows that this is not a civilian weapon but a military weapon. I expect this pistol was made for a division of the Dutch state army, it was customary to number the pistols, so at least 42 pieces of this Pistol were made. The initials GG are those of the commander/owner of the relevant division or regiment. The first G can stand for count (dutch Graaf = count) and the second G for the family name. best,

22nd November 2020, 03:15 PM	#9
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Many thanks for this - very interesting; this pistol once was part of my collection - a late meeting!! The explanation of the meaning of the two letters at the thumbplate is certainly hitting the nail's head. Now I have to find out which regiment in the Dutch army used the "G.G.".