An antique, ca late 18th/early 19th century flintlock naval or Boarding pistol, or Blunderbuss, with folding bayonet, left side of boxlock engraved 'J & W Richards', with 'cannon' style 7" brass barrel, brass boxlock, with ramrod, wood grips, presented in shadow box style frame; size as framed: 12.5 x 24 inches This type of pistol is a version of what English firearm historian John Nigel George referred to as a “boarding pistol,” ideal for use in close quarter, hand-to-hand combat situations by men at sea. The brass barrel and boxlock, which housed the flintlock mechanism on the interior of the firearm rather than mounted on the side, would have been ideal in the high salt environment of the open ocean to avoid rust.

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