A Fine Pair of Scottish Scroll Butt Pistols by Alexander Campbell of Doune associated with the Jacobite Stewarts of Drumin
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Price: £POA
Ref: AA.04.23
Item Description
A fine pair of 22 bore Scottish Scroll Butt pistols by Alexander Campbell of Doune dating to the mid 18th century. These high quality pistols are typical of those made by the Doune pistol makers of which Alexander Campbell is one of the most highly regarded. Scroll Butt pistols were popular with both Jacobite and Hanoverian Scottish gentry in the 18th century. The silver escutcheons are engraved with a rare and specific crest for the Stewarts of Drumin. The family has Jacobite associations connected with both the uprisings of 1715 and 1745.
Doune was one of a number of Scottish market towns with established arms making businesses located on the border between the “Highland” and “Lowland” regions. They supplied weapons mainly to the Highland Clans during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Market days were a busy time as Highland drovers poured into these towns with their cattle, the staple of the Highland economy, to sell to Lowland buyers, and to purchase weapons and supplies. Doune developed a quality of workmanship which set it aside from many of the other Scottish gunmaking centres from the late 17th century onwards.
Amongst several family names that established gunmaking businesses in Doune there were three generations of Campbells. Alexander’s father-in-law, John, was one of the early founders of the gunmaking trade in Doune in the late 17th century and is recorded as deceased in 1720. Alexander’s son, also John, was a notable gunmaker, working primarily in the third quarter of the 18th century and died in 1807. Two more Campbell gunmakers, Charles and Daniel, briefly enter the records in 1740 and 1745 respectively. It is likely that they were employees in the family firm. Alexander’s death is recorded in 1790. He seems to have had a long working life commencing in the second quarter of the 18th century,
The all-steel construction of these pistols with scroll butts is typical of Doune manufacture. The “Doune style” of decorative silver inlay and engraving is particularly pertinent on the barrels, the scrolls on the cocks and lock plates, plus the foliage and linear engraving on the fore ends and undersides of the pistols. The feint remains of the original blued finish to the stocks is evident in the recesses.
The locks of these pistols are of typical “Highland” type, sometimes called “Doune locks”, made with a horizontal sear extending through each lock plate which holds the cock in the half cock position, and a vertical sear which extends from the top of each trigger plate through small oblong apertures in the centre of the upper surface of each butt. The lock plates are each signed “Alexr Campbell”. The spines of the butts are inlaid with silver Celtic scrolls and engraved with foliage, chevrons and waves. The fore ends are engraved with scrolls, acanthus leaves and linear designs on four planes. The pistols are mounted with silver triggers and prickers, iron ramrod tubes and ramrods.
Underneath the main body of each pistol the space is decorated with three silver bands and detailed linear engraving of scrolls and chevrons imbetween. The belt hooks are of fully developed Doune form with a double roundel pierced and decorated with Celtic designs. Remnants of the original blued finish to the stocks are discernible underneath the belthooks.
The four stage 22 bore tapering barrels are slightly under 7.75 inches (slightly under 19.5 cm) long with fluted sections near each breech, a grooved back sight cut into each ramp and flared muzzles of octagonal section engraved with panels of scrolls. The middle sections of the barrels are rounded and boldly engraved with foliate sections on top.
An oval silver escutcheon is inlaid into each side of the butt of each pistol. On one side the crest of the Stewarts of Drumin of County Banff is engraved. The blazon consists of a left and right hand conjoined holding up a heart. On top is the motto CORDE ET MANU, a reference to loyalty and service with hand and heart.
Thomas Stewart, born in 1630, purchased Drumin Castle, and later with the marriage of the heiress of Auchluncart, the Stewart family inherited that estate and formed another family branch. Both branches were to varying degrees associated with the Jacobite cause and the events of the 1715 and 1745 uprisings.
The reverse escutcheons are engraved with the monogram CES. Certainly the “S” relates to the Stewart family. The most commonly used Scottish first name that begins with a C is Charles. Its popularity amongst Jacobite supporters is likely a reflection of their respect for the Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788). A Charles Stewart occurs only once in the pedigree of the Drumin Stewarts. Charles Stewart, (1711-1790), was the second son of John Stewart (1660-1719), the 4th Laird of Drumin.
In the absence of documentary records the letter “E” engraved between the “C” and “S” in the monograms is less straightforward to explain. Possibly Charles Stewart informally used the name Edward as his middle name and placed the third letter in the monogram then used his amended initials as a mark of esteem for Charles Edward Stuart.
A second explanation, which seems more likely, is that the monogram refers to Charles Edward Stuart. This might mean that the pistols were emblazoned in his honour for personal use by Charles Stewart at the time of the 1745 rising. The use of emblems and motifs to subtly reflect personal loyalties was not unusual amongst Jacobite supporters and is evidenced on different forms of surviving Jacobite relics including crockery, glassware, textiles, silverware and weapons. A third explanation is that the pistols were emblazoned as a gift to the Young Pretender and they may have been presented to him.
Provenance: The collection of Waldo W Gower in the USA. Overall length 12.25 inches.
