AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: gibster on August 04, 2011, 03:38:41 AM

Title: T Ketland & Co. Flintlock Pistol
Post by: gibster on August 04, 2011, 03:38:41 AM

Bought this a few days ago and am trying to figure out when it may have been made.  The lock is marked "T Ketland & Co." and the barrel is marked London.  I'm sure that it was an import pistol.  The lock appears to be original flint with the top jaw and the jaw screw having been replaced.  There are no markings inside the lock.  It wsa made without a bridle.  The frizzen has been re-soled, probably during period of use.  The trigger guard has been replaced with an ill fitting guard.  The rest of the hardware looks correct for the pistol.  The round barrel is 9-inches long and measures .592 at the muzzle.  It has two proof marks as seen in the pictures.  There are what appears to be initials stamped into the wood at the tail of the off-side lock panel.  They look to be VC (see picture).  All thoughts and comments as to when it may have been made would be appreciated.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk212%2Fejgibby1%2Fflintpistollockside.jpg&hash=c8890728fe84a7d9d9b9d2b24acf3248e0025c05)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk212%2Fejgibby1%2Fflintpistolsideplateside.jpg&hash=cb868867462716045186a34c35c2fc5b1b0bc62e)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk212%2Fejgibby1%2Fflintpistollock.jpg&hash=79ea06c2079af130c68b6b8426c698cba9fe3ff4)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk212%2Fejgibby1%2Fflintpistolproof.jpg&hash=4cdd5737bf3a61d1cf101f57b6ab7468f26da1fb)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk212%2Fejgibby1%2Fflintpistolmarking.jpg&hash=a5b00eec6aff5911687db87b8a8443dcd83663a7)

Title: Re: T Ketland & Co. Flintlock Pistol
Post by: mr. no gold on August 04, 2011, 05:35:41 AM

Nice looking English 'trade pistol'. Ketland made a lot of these and they were sent all over the place. Many have brass barrels, and have 'London' stamped on the barrel. Most do not have a bridled frizzen and it has been suggested that this was a cost saving measure, or some prefer to think that this indicates an early gun, (Colonial period). I would think that this one dates pretty close to 1800 with a few years on either side of that point.
Finding one with an iron barrel is very good and the condition is quite acceptable for a hand gun of this age. Thanks for showing it around.
Dick 

Title: Re: T Ketland & Co. Flintlock Pistol
Post by: alyce-james on August 04, 2011, 10:50:04 PM

This pistol has my kind of overall shape. I like the grip area best, the cap and steel barrel. Very interesting to me. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. AJ

Title: Re: T Ketland & Co. Flintlock Pistol
Post by: JV Puleo on August 07, 2011, 03:30:15 AM

Nice, albeit ordinary export pistol made in the B'ham gun trade and sold by the Thomas Ketland firm. Those are Ordnance private proofs which makes this one of the earlier examples of this type... very generally the "2nd type" export pistol. Mr. No Gold is spot on as to the date. I'd say between 1800 and 1805. Nice to see one in original flint too.