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1600s Dutch Sea Service pistol
- Thread starter keegah
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
I don't think it's a naval pistol, and I don't think it's Dutch, and I don't think it's from the 1600s. I think it's later, mid 1700s.
This is primarily my gut talking, but I've seen a fair number of European and American naval pistols over the years...
First, it's a bit too elaborate for a sea service pistol. Generally sea service pistols were fairly simple and tended not to have a lot of brass, especially not the filigreed brass side plate on the left like that one has.
The grip furniture is also quite elaborate, again, not in keeping with general military styles, even in the 1600s/1700s, and especially not naval arms that would be subject to extreme corrosive environments.
Also, naval pistols generally had a clip on the left hand side that would allow it to be shoved into the waist band of the user's pants or a belt. Think boarding party use where you'd fire the one in your hand, drop it, and pull another loaded one out of your belt.
None of those observations are definitive, of course, but I think combined they tend to indicate that it's not a naval pistol.
Now, the one telling thing, at least for me, is the Fleur de Lis decoration on the grip cap.
Combine that with the filigreed plate on the left side of the gun, and I think that's a French pistol, and it's most likely a French Dragoon pistol. Still a bit on the elaborate side, but not out of the ordinary because the Dragoons were elite troops and generally their weapons had a lot more decorative properties to them.
This is primarily my gut talking, but I've seen a fair number of European and American naval pistols over the years...
First, it's a bit too elaborate for a sea service pistol. Generally sea service pistols were fairly simple and tended not to have a lot of brass, especially not the filigreed brass side plate on the left like that one has.
The grip furniture is also quite elaborate, again, not in keeping with general military styles, even in the 1600s/1700s, and especially not naval arms that would be subject to extreme corrosive environments.
Also, naval pistols generally had a clip on the left hand side that would allow it to be shoved into the waist band of the user's pants or a belt. Think boarding party use where you'd fire the one in your hand, drop it, and pull another loaded one out of your belt.
None of those observations are definitive, of course, but I think combined they tend to indicate that it's not a naval pistol.
Now, the one telling thing, at least for me, is the Fleur de Lis decoration on the grip cap.
Combine that with the filigreed plate on the left side of the gun, and I think that's a French pistol, and it's most likely a French Dragoon pistol. Still a bit on the elaborate side, but not out of the ordinary because the Dragoons were elite troops and generally their weapons had a lot more decorative properties to them.
m&p45acp10+1
New member
I concur Mike's assessment that it is a dragoon pistol. That looks very much like a saddle gun to me. The dragoons had a holster built into the saddles. Though most had a pair, or "brace" of pistols in the saddle holsters.
In any event it is a fine looking weapon, and in awesome shape for such an old piece.
In any event it is a fine looking weapon, and in awesome shape for such an old piece.