An Extensively Silver Inlaid Scottish Scroll Butt Pistol by Alexander Campbell of Doune circa 1740

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Price: £12,500

Ref: 52091120

Item Description

A fine Scottish Scroll Butt Pistol by Alexander Campbell of Doune. This pistol is slightly longer than those Doune pistols made by various makers in the town which survive from the mid 18th century and its overall proportions indicate that it dates to the second quarter of that century. It is engraved and sumptuously inlaid with Celtic silver scrollwork patterns of the highest quality similar in style to that on the pistol which once belonged to the Chief of Clan Cameron dating to circa 1740 illustrated in “The Swords and the Sorrows”, page 71 (see below for full reference). The pistol shows some wear commensurate with its age and has some minor losses to the inlay as can be seen in the photographs below.

Alexander Campbell 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 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 its original condition which is still in crisp working order.

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 which extends from the top of the trigger plate through a small oblong aperture in the middle of the upper part of the butt. The lock plate is clearly signed “Alexr Campbell” and underneath “Duni Fecit” (made by Alexander Campbell in Doune).

The swan necked cock, and the area behind the cock on the lock plate, is typically engraved with roundels of scrolling foliage. A vacant silver oval escutcheon is mounted on each side of the butt. The silver headed pricker screws into the stock between the scroll terminals and is decorated as a four petalled flowerhead with the petals radiating from the middle in the same style as the trigger. The iron ramrod tube is spaced with line decoration and the original ramrod is shaped into baluster shapes towards the end separated by moulded ridges with a flattened terminal and pierced swelling. The tip of the ramrod 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 cut into 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 flat shoulder of the belt hook is also inlaid with silver.

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

Scroll Butt pistols were popular with both Jacobite and Hanoverian Scottish gentry and military officers in the late 17th and 18th 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 community of gunmakers with a high 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 trade there 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 18th 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 just under 8 inches (20.25 cm) long and overall the pistol is 13 inches (33 cm) long. The pistol is evenly patinated and smoothly worn overall which can be seen in the images below.

The Cameron of Lochiel pistol referred to above is illustrated in “The Swords and the Sorrows”, National Trust for Scotland, 1996, page 71, Fig 5:19.