William Henry of Nazareth pistols

[spgordon]

Bob Lienemann's new book has fantastic pictures of a set of pistols, now at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, made by William Henry II between 1780 and 1786. Here is a photo of another set of pistols that William Henry made later for Simon Snyder, Pennsylvania's governor. (Unclear whether he made them while Synder was governor, i.e. after 1808, or before.) But the two have an elaborate sideplate in common. What do you make of it?

[rich pierce]

Reminds me of a Beck pistol. Shows those guys could do whatever the market would bear.

[Seth Isaacson]

On Georgian pistols it is not at all uncommon to find the same pattern or very similar patterns of silver furniture on sets of pistols made by various makers given the furniture was purchased from silversmiths.

Note how similar that pattern is to these English pistols:
http://www.icollector.com/ENGLISH-SILVER-MOUNTED-FLINTLOCK-PISTOL-WITH-BARREL-SIGNED-BUMFORD-JOHN-BUMFORD-1742-1775-LONDON-C_i17332566


https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/britishmilitariaforums/bunney-silver-mounted-pistol-t18654.html

[James Rogers]

Yep, English side plate

[smart dog]

Hi,
Also notice the vanishingly small lock moldings used along with the round-faced lock.

dave

[Majorjoel]

I don't know what it is about fancy sideplates, but I sure do have a "thing" for them!

Thank you Scott for posting those pictures!

[spgordon]

Fantastic information--thanks, Rambling Historian, for posting those two similar or identical sideplates from those English pistols. So WH in Nazareth was routinely (well, at least twice that we know of) using this particular English sideplate. I wonder the route by which he purchased them--from Philadelphia, from some closer-by town or city, from Moravian contacts...?

Anybody know of this same sideplate appearing on other American-made arms?

[Mike Brooks]

Those sideplates most likely were exported from England, as well as the lock, buttcap and trigger guard.

[Nordnecker]

What does a sideplate like that represent? It looks like London bridge, some flags laying on the ground, a cannon barrel maybe?

[smart dog]

Hi,
It is called a "panolpy of arms". A panolpy refers to a complete suit of armor and weapons.  In the 17th century that also included cannon, lances, firearms, etc, as well as armor.  Sometimes included with the panolpy were trophies such as bound prisoners. In the 18th century it generally included flags, cannon, spears, armor, and fortifications.  My impression is that it was commonly used on guns with some military connections like privately made pistols for an officer or if the owner had some other military connection.  I say that because I often see the design on officers pistols but it may have had wider appeal as well.

dave

[spgordon]

More great info: thanks, Dave! You can see all the elements you mention: flags, fortifications, a cannon, spears, etc.

Snyder (as WH II would have known: the Snyder family in Lancaster attended the Moravian church there, alongside the Henrys) did not serve in the Revolution, which some attacked him for when he later ran for office (which, when he secured, he used to expel Federalist war vets from judgeships). So it is an interesting development, regarding the use of this "panolpy of arms," that Henry used this decoration on Snyder"s pistols.

This sideplate, as Bob's book illustrates, also appears on the pistols made for William Henry II's father. Now William Henry of Lancaster did not serve in the armed forces during the Revolution, either--was never an officer--but he did serve the Revolutionary cause in many public offices at the local, state, and continental level and was a early and eager patriot.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I'm away from home and have not had a chance to really examine the book as yet, but have the silver mountings on these pistols been identified with hallmarks?  Are hallmarks present?

[spgordon]

Eric, I believe Bob states in the write-up in the book on the William Henry Jr. pistols (at Historical Society of PA) that there are no hallmarks on these mountings. These pistols that I've posted the photos of are, to my knowledge, unlocated at present--so who knows?

[Eric Kettenburg]

Too the assumption that the furnishings are imports is currently just that - an assumption.  It may be a smart assumption, but there remains no proof either way.  It is certainly conceivable that he made the furniture, also, either by casting off new patterns or casting off original English work.  He certainly seems to have had no small ability.

[spgordon]

Certainly possible. But why would Henry try to reproduce so exactly the British sideplate, etc.?

It seems to me, anyway, that the more interesting issue than whether the sideplates were imports or replicas is that Henry chose to put these particular sideplates, which signaled “British,” on two sets of pistols (at least).

[Eric Kettenburg]

I believe it would have been considered 'high style' and representative of quality and accomplishment, not to mention status on the part of the purchaser.

[blienemann]

I had not been checking the web these past few days, and thanks for this interesting post and more examples.  Here's what I offered up regarding the sideplates -

"The martial themed pierced silver sideplates and grotesque mask buttcaps for the pair of pistols are very similar, but not identical - both their outlines and sculpted details vary slightly. Cast and then finished by hand, these mounts apparently came from different patterns, and the same may be true for the silver thumbpieces. The lack of hallmarks does not prove they are not of English manufacture. Bethlehem had a silversmith - though gun mounts would have been specialized work for a small market. These mounts may have been purchased in Philadelphia with its larger artisan base. It is also possible that they were salvaged from earlier pistols, as these particular designs were common on English pistols from the 1730’s through the 1770’s at least."

New friends from England who helped with access and photos of other arms in the book explained that the panoply of arms theme was very popular - and castings without hallmarks were available, over several decades at least.  So Henry could have cast these - removing hallmarks if they existed, or the silversmith at Bethlehem, one of their suppliers from Phila, or these might have been salvaged. 

Henry had a contract to repair 1,000 stand of arms while at Christian's Spring a few years earlier, and the arsenal at Allens Town was probably a melting pot of design as they repaired and stocked all sorts of arms - chime in, Eric. 

That the mounts do not match from one pistol to the other is informative.  This may have been the standard form for top drawer gentlemen's pistols for the past several decades, given the many examples we see.  The Rev War and embargo beginning in 1774 may have cut off imports - and slowed the flow of new design ideas, though we don't know just when Henry made this pair.  Did imports pick up again after 1783 and the Treaty, or did this take longer?

Fun to consider and try to understand, Bob

[spgordon]

Bob, I was wondering about this: "The martial themed pierced silver sideplates and grotesque mask buttcaps for the pair of pistols are very similar, but not identical - both their outlines and sculpted details vary slightly. Cast and then finished by hand, these mounts apparently came from different patterns, and the same may be true for the silver thumbpieces."

The entry for this pistol in the new book has three images of a sideplate. Do these three images all show the same sideplate (from the same pistol of the pair)? If so, do you have images of the second sideplate that you can post here?

The WH of Naz sideplate you show sure seems identical to the two posted by Rambling Historian, although they may have worn differently over the years--and identical to the new WH of Naz introduced in this post. Or would we call these similar rather than identical? (I'm wondering if you or others are seeing differences that I am missing in the various sideplates pictured in this post.)

BTW, Norman Dixon's Georgian Pistols shows quite a few "panoply of arms" sideplates--but most show a different castle at the center, say, than the sideplate we are discussing here. But one pistol (Robert Wilson, c. 1770) has a "panoply of arms" sideplate that seems to me identical (or very similar), with a piece of the left side removed to fit the available area.

Dyke's Thoughts on the American Flintlock Pistol shows very few sideplates--no instances of the "panoply of arms" sideplate.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I'm not able to make any real argument either way in reference to a discussion re: purchased vs. 'home-cast.'  With no markings it's probably impossible to say.  Prior to the War with import stores in Philly being fully stocked, it would likely to make more sense to purchase such mountings given the increased labor involved in casting such pieces as compared to say a simple rifle buttplate or guard.  Following the War, with the British import market thrown into disarray - who knows?  Also, good point as to the possibility of extant pieces being disassembled for recycling; during the period of mid 1776 though early 1779, Northampton County was practically the center of the universe in Pennsylvania and NJ and there were huge quantities of people, soldiers, craftsmen and supplies passing through on a daily basis.

I do believe the question of 'why' as to this style in particular comes down simply to fashion.  People are people:  something becomes popular or attains a vaunted status and many will wish to attain it as a symbol.  Just look at these pistols as an iPhone!

Bob I can't wait to see the final product!  Should be able to do so shortly.

[spgordon]

We could speak much more sensibly about all this if we had any idea whatsoever about how prevalent this particular sideplate was on American-made pistols. We have, honestly, no idea whatsoever about whether WH of Naz was part of a trend in using these in America or (quite the opposite) nearly unique. Without reliable statistics of this sort, we're speculating in the dark. We now know that WH of Naz used this sideplate--still don't know whether to say similar or identical--on two sets of pistols. I myself think it unlikely, but not impossible, that he cast them himself. I think he obtained them from somewhere, who knows when (or how long they were sitting around), perhaps recycled them from earlier pistols. Again, without knowing whether this particular sideplate was frequently or infrequently used, it's hard to judge whether he used it because it was "trendy" or because it happened to be what was easily available or at hand.

[Mike Brooks]

Do we know for sure the wood on these is English walnut or Black Walnut? I think there is a possibility they could be an English export product "personalized" by Henry for sale through his shop.
 If you look through 'GREAT BRITISH GUNMAKERS"  by Neal and Back you'll notice every feature about this pistol is commonly English.
 I had a Bilby Hyde & CO. SXS flint gun that the only thing Bilby Hyde & CO. did was had their name engraved on the locks...they weren't gunmakers, they were sellers.

[spgordon]

Mike, in an 1807 letter now at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, John J. Henry reminded his brother, William Henry of Nazareth, of "a pair of pistols, silver mounted, which you made & presented to our father"--which sure sounds like WH of Naz was a maker, not just a repurposer of an English export--at least in the case of that pair of pistols.

Uncertain whether the pistols that the 1807 letter refers to are the ones that Bob depicts in his book--i.e., the ones made for William Henry of Lancaster--or whether they were made for somebody else (a possibility Bob explores in the book).

[Mike Brooks]

Mike, in an 1807 letter now at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, John J. Henry reminded his brother, William Henry of Nazareth, of "a pair of pistols, silver mounted, which you made & presented to our father"--which sure sounds like WH of Naz was a maker, not just a repurposer of an English export--at least in the case of that pair of pistols.

Uncertain whether the pistols that the 1807 letter refers to are the ones that Bob depicts in his book--i.e., the ones made for William Henry of Lancaster--or whether they were made for somebody else (a possibility Bob explores in the book).

Very possible of course. They sure look English though. He knocked English style out of the park!

[blienemann]

For a variety of reasons mentioned in the book, I lean toward young Henry stocking the pistols - and at least a few more pairs from Scott's research - thanks!  Look at the seams and flaws in the locks, and other details.  But Mike - it's a lean, not a declaration. 

Remember that George W. and others here had wanted desperately to become English officers, but were passed over.  Look at the pair of pistols George carried - fine English officers' pistols.  I agree that a pair of such pistols was highly desirable and a symbol of status.  For Henry to make a pair such as this for his father showed that he had "arrived" - having put a scandal behind him, filled contracts for the young US, and now just built a home and shop, married and set up in business with much help from Dad.

There's another fine pistol marked W Henry and Nazareth out there - but it's a great copy of a ca 1750 German styled pistol, nearly identical to the A Albrecht pistol shown earlier in the book.  Did Albrecht teach young Henry in the early 1770's this style that he learned in the old country much earlier?  Did they build in various styles, per their preferences or for the customer?  Again, these guys traveled to learn their trade, and were not limited in exposure.  They could probably knock it out of various parks!

That's part of the fun of research - it messes up our assumptions.  I keep reading that PA arms should have German locks - and perhaps German style, but the range of Bethlehem and C's Spring arms split about equally with German, English and colonial locks.  Probably the same for barrels and hardware, until wars and embargoes got in the way.

Scott - the sideplate at top of p 179 is one pistol (note frizzen flopped forward on opposite side due to broken frizzen spring) and the two photos on pp 181 and 184 are of the other.  A careful study of the outlines and some internal details show the difference.  This web is a wonderful way to learn and share.  Bob

[Mike Brooks]

For a variety of reasons mentioned in the book, I lean toward young Henry stocking the pistols - and at least a few more pairs from Scott's research - thanks!  Look at the seams and flaws in the locks, and other details.  But Mike - it's a lean, not a declaration.

I haven't read the section o the pistols yet, looking forward to it....only so many hors in one day. Be much easier to make any comment with the pistols in hand. Where ever they were mad they are very fine work.