A Scarce British 1794 Pattern Light Dragoon Pistol mounted with a 9 Inch Barrel of Carbine Bore

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Price: £1,750

Ref: AA.060.23

Item Description

The 1794 Pattern Light Dragoon Pistol replaced the Royal Forresters 1760 / 78 Dragoon Pistol. Two types of pistol are associated with the “1794”. The first is with a 10 inch barrel and the second, the type described here, is with a 9 inch barrel.

The 9 inch barrel type utilises the 1777 round lock. The two decades before 1794 were a period of military austerity and reduced numbers of weapons were produced by the British Ordnance.  Production of some of these 9 inch pistols may have commenced before 1794 but as the attribution suggests most were produced from that year. Owing to the introduction of the 1799 Pattern Light Dragoon Pistol which replaced it, the 1794 was in mainstream production for only five years and is a scarce pistol today.

The 16 (0.66 inch) bore barrel is stamped with Ordnance proof marks and is moulded at the breech. The lock is stamped with a crowned “G R” on the lockplate, the government ownership mark beneath the pan and the tail is stamped with “TOWER”. The brass tipped rammer is housed in a tapered, collared Pratt type pipe. The brass trigger guard, flat side plate and butt cap are of standard form for the pistol type. The walnut stock is stamped with storekeeper and acceptance marks.  The whole is in overall fine original condition although a small triangular section of wood underneath the stock on the lock-side of the trigger has been expertly replaced as can be seen in the photos.

Provenance: This pistol is from the collection of the late Clive Brook who together with Barry Chisnall and Geoff Davies co-authored “British Ordnance Single Shot Pistols”, published by Maine Military in 2019. The pistol is featured in page 4-18.  A copy of this publication is included with the sale of this pistol.