A friend of mine gave me permission to post this Thomas Holbrook pistol. I will add text later.
Dennis
Please note that there is a slight remainder of engraving on the front of the cock, and on the cock screw.
The Second Thomas Holbrook Pistol
It is clear that F. Allen Thompson was a major fan of Thomas Holbrook, and in his article “Worcester County Gunsmiths 1780-1830” he expresses his historical passion toward Holbrook in the following. “I believe the most important gunsmith and probably the most influential in this area was Thomas Holbrook (1747-1810) of Sherborn, Mass. He made Fowlers, buck and ball guns and at least one brass barreled pistol. His workmanship is flawless. “…I have personally had the pleasure of holding the pistol referred to in Thompson’s article. It is owned by a senior member of our organization.. In total respect for the thorough research abilities of Mr. Thompson we can however, amend and affirm that there are “at least two pistols attributed to Holbrook” ….. We now have another Holbrook!
This newly surfaced pistol is not only unique in the fact that it has now come out of the closet, but also in that it is “silver mounter” and dated “1789”.. IT is quite unique that there are no other documented silver mounted pistols of this vintage produced by any Mass gunsmith, in no way held the same somewhat extravagant “rococo” values, resources and inclinations of our friends across the ocean in France. The additional uniqueness lies in the fact the pistol was produced in 1789. Now what is unique about 1789?? George Neumann is probably chuckling at this time he is probably one of the only members of the club that instantly recognized the 1789 date as the first great celebratory of our Nation’s first President, George Washington…. Along with this, Washington in the fall of 1789, had just completed a wildly enthusiastic 20 day visit to New England spending the majority of his time in Mass. Upon his return to New York he coincidentally visited the town of Sherborn, Mass… and yes… Sherborn is the town where Thomas Holbrook worked, practicing his trade as a gunsmith.
As with all of Holbrook’s work, the pistol is masterfully created and very small and gentlemanly. A little over 12 inches long with a clear Holbrook calligraphic lock plate signature, decorative elements, and the owners name “Taylor”, on the rear top silver decorative grip support.. The escutcheon should be studied closely. It does not hold the owners initials. If viewed through a microscope, it resembles a colonial miniaturist’s visual equivalent of a 1960’s Pop ART expression of “WOW IT’S 1789”……….
