‡ AN 18 BORE NEAPOLITAN MIQUELET-LOCK HOLSTER PISTOL SIGNED A.B. PENZA, DATED 1776

‡ AN 18 BORE NEAPOLITAN MIQUELET-LOCK HOLSTER PISTOL SIGNED A.B. PENZA, DATED 1776 with swamped barrel formed in two stages, chiselled with foliage at the median, octagonal breech struck with the barrelsmith’s mark of J. Pedro Esteva of Barcelona (Neue Støckel 7368 and 7369) lined in gold (losses), engraved tang, signed flat bevelled lock engraved with border ornament, dated steel, full stock moulded over the fore-end (repaired), carved with foliage about the rear ramrod-pipe, tang and lock (rubbed), full copper alloy mounts comprising spurred faceted pommel engraved with scrolls, border ornament and finely chiselled with a portrait bust cap, openwork side-plate, trigger-guard with foliate finial, faceted ramrod-pipe, a slender band at the fore-end, and iron ramrod, perhaps the original, 33.0 cm barrel Probably by a member of the Penza family recorded in Naples circa 1700-50.