Lot 123
A Scottish steel and silver scroll butt belt pistol the lock
Jacobite, Stuart, and Scottish Applied Arts
Auction: 13 May 2015 at 12:00 BST
Description
by Christie and Murdoch, Doune 1752, steel stock of traditional form engraved overall with foliate scrolls, the signed lock with disc comb on cock pierced with a star, the four stage barrel with receded breech scroll, engraved centre section with flared octagonal muzzle scroll, butt with silver flattened ball pricker and matching trigger plain, silver escutcheon on one side and engraved crest of a hand grasping a raised dagger surmounted by the motto POUR MON DIEU with original pierced belt hook and original iron ramrod the engraved base inset with three bars of silver
Dimensions
30.5cm (12 inches) long
Footnote
Notes:
The Partnership of John Murdoch (working 1750 – 1798) and John Christie (working 1750 – 1775) is recorded in Doune from 1750, the earliest mention of both makers. Only two pairs of pistols under this partnership are recorded (see The Scottish Pistol, by Martin Kelvin). John Christie is considered amongst the finest makers of Scottish pistols and fine examples of his work are in the National Museum of Scotland, ex Sir Noel Paton collection who commented on them ‘I have nowhere seen pistols more, or, indeed, so beautiful as these’. The Royal Collection at Windsor also houses a particularly fine example with a gold plaque to the butt believed to have been gifted to King George III on his accession to the throne in 1760. John Christie, and also when in partnership with John Murdoch, uniquely for Doune gunsmiths, engraved the date of manufacture to the inside of the lock plate. This example dated 1752.
John Murdoch was a far more prolific maker of Scottish pistols and although a high quality was constant it appears that the peak of his work was under the partnership with Christie.