Scottish Steel Heart Butt Flintlock Pistol marked I M

.50 caliber. 7.5" three stage round barrel with faux baluster turned rings at the transitions and a cannon muzzle. NSN. Single shot flintlock muzzleloading all metal pistol of traditional Scottish "Heart Butt" form with notch rear sight, no front sight, vent pick in butt, ball trigger, belt hook on reverse and a functional steel ramrod. Lock with integral rounded, fenced and bridled pan and flat faceted swan neck cock. Lock marked somewhat crudely "I M". Barrel with simple inlaid silver bands and geometric shapes, lightly engraved and further decorated with some simple gold lines. "Heart Butt" has a thick, rounded profile similar to the Bollock Dagger form. This style of Scottish pistol is considered an "early" form, often referred to as "Pre-Cullodan", and is often somewhat crudely executed as a pistol from the second quarter of the 18th century would be. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Condition
Fair to Good. Smooth bore dark and rusty. Metal moderately oxidized, cleaned in the past leaving most of the engraving soft and weak and now toning down to a medium dull pewter color with pinpricking and freckled discoloration. Lock needs mechanical attention and will barely hold at half cock and will not hold at full cock. Metal with the expected marks, dings and mars from carry and use.