Flintlock pistol
Claude Niquet (1692 - 1764)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1730 - circa 1740
Materials
Walnut, Iron, Brass
Measurements
370 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Liège
Order this imageCollection
Gunby Hall Estate, Lincolnshire
NT 637514
Summary
Flintlock pistol by Claude Niquet of Liege, c1730-40.
Full description
A flintlock pistol, c1730-40, by Claude Niquet of Liege. Claude Niquet (1692 - 1764), gunmaker on the Pont d'Ile, Liege. Iron barrel of 2-stage form, octagonal at the breech, then round to the slightly flared muzzle. The 2 stages separated by moulded rings. There is a large brass fore-sight. The breech is stamped with London Gunmakers Company proof marks. Barrel length 22.3cm. Calibre 15.8mm. Walnut full stock with "hooked-form" pommel and having profile carving to the barrel tang, lock, ramrod channel, sideplate and the escutcheon. Finely cast brass furniture comprising; pommel cap in the form of a lion mask, trigger guard with helmeted figure, a stand of arms, and lion mask, sideplate with reclining figure, lion and a stand of arms, large escutcheon with 2 figures, and 2 ramrod pipes (rear pipe with a lion mask). Scroll tip trigger. Flintlock, of iron, the lockplate of rounded profile and engraved Claude Nique a Liege. Rounded cock, the top section missing. The frizzen and frizzen-spring with internal screws. The flash-pan is formed with a raised lip which corresponds with a recess in the frizzen lid, thus forming a water-tight seal.There is a drainage slot cut at the base of the flash shield to allow water to escape and not enter the pan. Overall length: 37cm. Source/Reference: E. Heer, Der Neue Stockel, Switzerland 1978 C. Gaier, "Le Musée d'Armes" bulletin N° 79, Liege, December 1994
Provenance
1990, purchased from J Montgomery-Massingberd.
Marks and inscriptions
Lockplate: Claude Nique a Liege
Makers and roles
Claude Niquet (1692 - 1764), gunsmith
References
Heer, 1978: Eugene Heer, Der Neue Stockel: 3 Volumes