A Scarce Mail Coach Pistol by H.W. Mortimer

A Scarce Mail Coach Pistol by H.W. Mortimer
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ID: 2477

With slightly swamped brass barrel signed in full and numbered along the top flat at the breech and engraved ‘HW Mortimer London Gun Makers To His Majesty No 66’ flat bevelled lock with safety-catch (damage at tail of lock) cock a working life replacement, figured full stock (some bruising and old repair to fore-end) with rounded butt, brass mounts of regulation type comprising side-plate, pommel-cap and trigger-guard, brass ramrod-pipes, and later brass-tipped ramrod, London proof marks. 


MORTIMER 

Harvey Walklate Son of Samuel Mortimer, born 1753. Apprenticed to father, 1772; free of Farriers Co., 1782; elected Assistant, 1807. Gunmaker, at Mr Greens ironmonger, 6 Kings Street., Lincolns Inn Fields, 1779; 89 Fleet Street., 1782-99. Appointed Gunmaker to George III, 1783. Contractor to East India Co., 1796-1806. Specialised in repeating pistols and gold mounted guns for the Eastern market. Advertised For the Inspection of the Curious, just finished, Three pair of Elegant Pistols, mounted in solid gold value 547 intended as a present to a foreign Prince, 1784 (Morning Herald, 20 August). Registered mark as small worker at Goldsmiths Hall, 1798. Made gold-mounted firearms set with diamonds for the U.S. Government as present for Bey of Tunis, 1801-2. Member of Law Association Volunteers, provided their muskets, 1803. His own musket in Inns of Court Museum, London. Became H. W. Mortimer, Son & T. Mortimer. Retired, 1811. Died 1819.   


Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. 


Dimensions:

Bore: 22 Bore

Barrel Length: 9 Inches (23.5 cm)

Overall Length: 15.5 Inches (36.83 cm)


Notes


This pistol is featured in F. Wilkinsons book - Flintlock Pistols An Illustrated Reference Guide to Flintlock Pistols from the 17th Century to the 19th Century. 


The pistol comes from the collection of D. H. S. Gyngell (curator of the Tower Armouries)sold in 1999


The early examples were supplied by the gunmaker Henry Walklate Mortimer of the Borough, South London who is also recorded as supplying pistols for the horse post in the accounts of December 2 1803 (PO Post 6/9). The earliest payment to Mortimer for pistols appears in January 1791, covering the period from April 1790, for his name appears in the account; Mr. Henry Mortimer for firearms for the mail guards from 24 April 1790-5 January 1791 131-10-0 (PO Post 9/14). His name and similar payments appear at fairly regular intervals and there was a steady supply of firearms over the years. 

The standard armament for the guard was a blunderbuss and a pair of holster pistols. All were simple, solid construction with brass barrels, presumably on the assumption that their exposure to the weather would rust the more conventional iron barrels..


Wilkinsons book supplies an invaluable resource for anyone interested in collection and researching this type of pistol. Appendix 4 (pages 254 - 258) is of particular interest. 


Frederick Wilkinson (2002) Those Entrusted With Arms. Greenhill Books, London A Scarce Mail Coach Pistol by H.W. Mortimer