EIC Contract British Pattern 1801 Sea Service Pistol
.57 caliber (pistol bore). 12" pinned round barrel. SN: NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot flintlock muzzleloading smoothbore pistol. 5.25" flat post-1777 pattern flint lock with integral bridled and fenced rounded iron pan and flat reinforced cock. Lock with pointed tail and double border lines, appears to have had the East Indian Company "Rampant Lion" marking ground from the lock under the pan, and due to pitting no markings are present at the tail of the lock. The weak remnants of a {Crown-Broad Arrow} appears to be present under the pan, suggesting the pistol was one of the many guns purchased by the Board of Ordnance from the East India Company during the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812 period. Barrel with a pair of London commercial gun maker's proof marks and an EIC {Crown}/9 inspection. Lock and barrel remain in original flint, as confirmed by internal examination of the lock and endoscopic examination of the interior of the breech. Tail of counterpane opposite the lock with the initials B&P, the contractor mark of Brander & Potts who worked in London circa 1802-1827. During that time they made guns for the East India Company and also served as contractors to the Board of Ordnance circa 1809-1821 and 1824-1827. The pistol appears to have been produced without a belt hook, with the traditional locating hole for the stud at the tail of the belt hook having been repurposed as a screw hole that allows a wood screw to retain the side plate. Brass furniture includes the bulbous lobed butt cap, flat serpentine side plate, triggerguard and single ramrod pipe. Stock with the traditional raised-carved beaver tail shaped apron around the breech plug tang. A modern brass tipped wooden ramrod is included.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore dark, moderately oxidized with scattered light to moderate pitting. Metal with a mottled and moderately oxidized pewter and dark gray patina and showing even light to moderate pitting over most of the metal surfaces. Lock remains mechanically functional. Lock and barrel remain in their original flint configuration. Brass with a dull golden patina. Stock with scattered bumps, dings and mars from handling and use and some minor wood loss around the barrel pins.