A Dublin Castle Light Dragoon Pistol of “Earlier” type circa 1780

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Price: £2,750

Ref: AA.058.23

Item Description

A fine example of a Dublin Castle Light Dragoon Pistol typically mounted with a 1777 flat pistol lock with a swan neck cock and a 9 inch barrel.  Given the number of British Army regiments either stationed in Ireland, or temporarily based there awaiting embarkation for service abroad, it made sense for an arms assembly and servicing facility to be established there.

This pistol belongs to the “Earlier” Dublin Castle Light Dragoon group which was assembled with earlier Land Service mounts. These include the thick rounded sideplate, acorn finial to the trigger guard, and two ramrod pipes. This older type furniture combined with the 1777 lock indicates that the pistol was probably made shortly after 1777. It seems that these parts may have been preserved in store for some time before the pistol was assembled.

The barrel is struck with Dublin Castle proof marks, moulded at the breech and without a sight. The lock is stamped in front of the cock with a Crown over “G R” enhanced by a line border and the tail is stamped “Dublin Castle” within a triangular lined panel. Official marks on the stock on the counterlock side consist of Inspection and Acceptance Stamps plus the unclear initials, possibly of “G T”, for the stockmaker. The tapering wooden rammer has a flat brass terminal. The figured full stock has an apron around the barrel tang.

The pistol is in fine condition with the lock mechanism still in crisp order.

Provenance: The 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.