Flintlock pistol
Joseph Griffin (1726 - 1783)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1770
Materials
iron, walnut, brass
Measurements
325 mm (Length)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1170508.1
Summary
Gun. Flintlock pistol. One of a pair of flintlock holster pistols, c1770, by Joseph Griffin of London
Full description
One of a pair of flintlock holster pistols, c1770 by Joseph Griffin, London (active 1740 - 85). The brass mounts and plainness of the pistols indicates they were intended for military use. Joseph Griffin, born in 1726 was in business as a gunmaker from about 1750. He was appointed Gentleman Armour to His Majesty’s Stables in Ordinary (George II) in 1760. Sufficient examples of Griffin’s work have survived to show that he (and later with his partner, John Tow) produced a considerable number of high quality firearms for both the Monarcy and British aristocracy. He died in 1783. Round and tapered iron barrel with slightly flared muzzle. The flattened breech stamped with London Gunmakers Company proof marks, the makers mark, IC, and are engraved on the top within a panel, BOND STREET, LONDON. Retained to the stock by 2 barrel pins. Wooden ramrod. Barrel length: 17.5cm Calibre: 15mm. Walnut fullstock, the butt of bulbous form, and having a large plain apron carved around the barrel tang. Engraved brass furniture comprising; spurred butt cap with flower design, escutcheon with the Middleton family crest (a hand), a trigger guard with decorative finial, flat side-plate and 1 ramrod pipe. Flintlock with rounded section lockplate, border engraved and signed GRIFFIN. Retained to the stock by 2 sidenails. Overall length: 32cm
Provenance
Amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust.
Marks and inscriptions
Barrel top: BOND STREET, LONDON Lockplate: GRIFFIN Escutcheon: Middelton crest (a Hand) Barrel top: "CP" with crown Barrel top.: "I.C." makers mark. Barrel top: "V" with crown. Brass plaque on top of stock butt.: "No1"
Makers and roles
Joseph Griffin (1726 - 1783), gunsmith
References
Blackmore, 1986: Howard Blackmore: A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850 Neal & Back, 1989: William Keith Neal & David Back, Griffin & Tow & W. Bailes