Early 19th Century Customs Riding Officers Flintlock Pistol By Barnett

There may be many things that come to mind when thinking of the dangers of living in the Georgian period, but amongst them must come the idea of a lone armed horseman on a storm swept rocky coastline hunting down a band of desperate smugglers.

That horseman would be a Customs Riding Officer and his job was an unpopular and dangerous one, even though he had the power to direct Dragoons to assist him.

In Frederick Wilkinson's book " Those Entrusted With Arms" it mentions that there were a total of 120 Riding Officers in 1811.

Rather than being supplied with arms, Riding officers were expected to supply their own weapons, but there are some "official" firearms and these were made by Thomas Barnett who was a Gunmaker and supplier to the service and it is stated that these date from 1829.  This is one of those pieces.

It is full stocked in walnut with brass furniture and a brass octagonal to round 0.56" calibre barrel with "customs" engraved into the top flat and with clear London Proof Marks.  The lock, trigger and screws make up the steelwork of this pistol and all show a very dark patina with some signs of corrosion (given the environment in which they served, I'm not surprised).

However, the frizen (with its roller mounted spring) is smooth, the mainspring is strong and the action is crisp, although half position is found very quickly.

The brasswork has a clean, but unpolished patina with engraving to the buttcap and trigger guard.  The walnut stock is quite heavily stained and to fit with its dramatic service life, is bruised and carries a few cracks and a small piece missing at the muzzle on one side.

Its horn tipped wooden ramrod fits smoothly into the two ramrod pipes and looks to be original?

A lovely piece of history.

Barrel length 20cm, Overall length 34cm.

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