19th Century English 0.28" Calibre 6 Shot Pepperbox Revolver Signed Fletcher Gloucester

With a darkened patina across all of the steelwork with some original bluing to the bar hammer, trigger and barrel cluster.

The steelwork is in good condition with little sign of corrosion, but age related wear and some "dinks" to the barrel cluster are evident.

There is fine foliate engraving which is clear to the body, bar hammer, trigger guard and around the muzzle, but the trigger guard decoration is heavily worn.

There are Birmingham Proof Marks between each barrel.   The one piece bag shaped walnut grip is finely hatched and has a blank oval silver (white metal) escutcheon and is worn and bruised.  It also looks like there is an old well repaired crack on the left side close to the tang.

The double action only mechanism works well with the mainspring being good.  There is an internal rattle of something loose, but it doesn't affect its operation in any way.

Weirdly the bag shaped grip gives this piece an early percussion cap period feel as opposed to the two piece grips with the flat base, which I feel somehow look a little later.

I've found two Gunmakers with the surname Fletcher who were from Gloucester, Thomas and William.  They were brothers with Thomas being the elder who began working in Westgate Street in 1829.  William worked with him but later set up by himself at Cross keys Lane.  Maybe with its earlier feel, this is a Thomas Fletcher piece?

A very nice small size example in any case.

Barrel lengths 6.5cm, Overall length 18cm.

This antique pistol is considered obsolete and non functioning, and is sold as a collectable ornamental item. This product is available for purchase in the UK without a license.