A fine mid 18th century Scottish Scroll Butt Pistol by Alexander Campbell of Doune

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Price: £11,500

Ref: 52082113

Item Description

A fine and crisp 1745 Jacobite Rebellion  period Scottish Scroll Butt Pistol by Alexander Campbell of Doune. This pistol maker is usually regarded to have been most active towards the mid-point of the 18th century. His career spanned both sides of the 1745 Rebellion period. He was one of the most productive and highly rated of traditional Scottish gun makers of the time and his work is representative of the Doune trade at its hiatus in terms of quality. This pistol is particularly relevant because of the fine workmanship enhanced by the excellent original condition of the pistol which is in crisp working order. The engraving is particularly fine and fresh.

The lock is of typical “Highland form” with a horizontal sear extending through the lock plate which holds the cock in the half cock position, and a vertical sear extends from the top of the trigger plate through a small oblong aperture in the centre of the upper part of the butt. The lock plate is clearly signed Alexr Campbell.

The swan necked cock, and the area behind the cock on the lock plate, is engraved with roundels of scrolling foliage. The cock is mounted on top with a cock comb pierced with a five pointed star with decorative circles between the points and a spur on top. This feature is only encountered on pistols made in the “high period” of Scottish pistol manufacture in the 18th century.

The sides of the butt are engraved with three foliate roundels similar to those on the lockplate of downwardly increasing size. The fore end is engraved with panels of acanthus leaves on its four planes. The pricker is original and screws into the stock between the scroll terminals and is decorated with radial lines same as the ball trigger which is also original. The iron ramrod tube is spaced with line decoration and the original ramrod is turned into baluster shapes towards the end separated by moulded ridges with a flattened terminal and pierced swelling. The tip is screw threaded.

The belt hook is finely engraved and shaped and mounted to the stock with a side plate consisting of a double roundel with complex piercings reminiscent of those present on the guard panels of the best quality contemporary basket hilted swords, particularly those of John Allan (Sr) of Stirling, who spent part of his early career in Doune working alongside the gun makers.

The four stage 24 bore barrel has an octagonal fluted section near the butt, a sighted ramp, and tapers to a flared muzzle with octagonal sides boldly engraved with detailed scrolled panels. The middle sections of the barrel are rounded, the largest of which is engraved with two counter-facing foliate panels.

Scroll Butt pistols were popular with both Jacobite and Hanoverian Scottish gentry and military officers in the late 17^th and 18^th centuries. Doune was one of a number of Scottish market towns with established arms making businesses located in the border fringes 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 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 by 1720. Alexander seems to have inherited the business and had a long working life commencing around this time and is recorded as deceased in 1790. Alexander’s son, another John, was also a notable gunmaker, working primarily in the third quarter of the 18^th century. He 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.

The barrel is 7.5 inches long (19 cm) and overall the pistol is 11.75 inches long (30 cm).

Provenance: The John Kirk Collection.