Pair of Flintlock Greatcoat Pistols
Marked Griffin - SOLD

Pair of full stock pocket flintlock pistols, with bag grips and slab sides. The brass barrels have octagonal rear sections, and wedding ring and blunderbuss forward sections ending in cannon muzzles. Barrels are marked "London" with British proofs and crowns. Locks marked "Griffin". Pans have a bridle to the frizzen, and the frizzen springs have rollers. Hammers are slightly different from each other. Furniture is all brass and engraved. Brass shield thumb pieces and rammer pipe; brass trigger guard having pineapple shaped and engraved forend and long tang. Barrels 4.5-inches long. Guns are 8.75-inches overall. Joseph Griffin London 1750-1787 became Griffin & Tow.
Griffin apprenticed to Samuel Blanckley, turned over to father 1741; free of Gunmakers Co., 1750. Proof piece and mark 1759. Elected assistant, 1759; Master, 1762-1763. Appointed Gentleman Armorer to His majesty near the Duke of Grafton's Bond Street., 1763 (Dir). Gentleman Armorer to the King, 1763-83 (Court Register). Gunmaker, in partnership with father until 1770, then with John Tow, 1771-82. d.1783. Will pr. 1784 (PCC). Left John Tow 100 British Pounds, but bulk of estate to sister, Catherine. Business carried on by John Tow. (The aforementioned from Gunmakers Of London Supplement 1350-1850 by Howard Blackmore.)

308-167/BPR-054/WVYS