‡ A 40 BORE CENTRAL ITALIAN SNAPHAUNCE HOLSTER PISTOL, CIRCA 1720

‡ A 40 BORE CENTRAL ITALIAN SNAPHAUNCE HOLSTER PISTOL, CIRCA 1720 with tapering barrel formed in two stages, engraved with a scroll and moulded at the median, engraved tang, flat lock retained by two side nails, inscribed ‘G*’ on the inside, finely engraved with scrolls, flowers and foliage and chased with a demon mask in low relief on the tail, fitted with engraved and chiselled cock and battery en suite, rectangular pan with sliding cover, highly figured full stock carved with dense scrolls of foliage over the fore-end, further foliage about the tang and on the butt, engraved and chiselled steel mounts comprising spurred pommel decorated with a demon mask on each side and the cap set with a further mask, flat openwork side-plate engraved with demi-figures and foliage with a monsterhead terminal, trigger-guard with a mask on the bow and openwork finial, a pair of ramrod-pipes, and openwork escutcheon, 26.5 cm barrel Provenance Waldo (Bill) Gower