A Flintlock Queen Anne by Griffin, Bond Street, London. With round three-stage turn-off barrel, stamped at the breech with London proof, numbered ‘1’ and signed, ‘GRIFFIN BOND STREET’ decorated with scrolling foliage and stamped ‘LONDON’, with foliate engraved tang, border engraved box-lock action, cock and frizen. Swelling walnut butt carved in relief with foliage behind the tang, cast and chased silver mounts comprising side-plate, escutcheon and grotesque mask butt cap. With unusual sliding trigger safety that also locks the cock (frozen). I have only seen this on a handful of other Queen Anne pistols from this period. 

Griffin, B. [1739-1773]

Shop in Bond Street, London. One of the early makers of double barrel pistols and fowling pieces. Made flintlock pocket and holster pistols with silver mountings, also double barrelled, side-by-side, flintlock pistols with two hammers and two triggers. The name became Griffin & Tow from 1773 to 1796, continuing on Bond Street. Made cannon barrel flintlock pocket pistols and silver mounted flintlock holster pistols. Also brass barrelled flintlock blunderbusses. 

A. Merwyn Carey (1954) English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers, Acro Publishing Company, New York. 

GRIFFIN

Benjamin. Apprenticed to Samuel Harrison, 1719; gave up apprentice and worked as Fireign gunmaker allowed to prove guns by Gunmakers Co., 1724-31. Told to give up work by Gunmakers CO., but traded as gunmaker (Successor to Samuel Garrison), Bond St., 1735-70. Registered silversmiths mark, Goldsmiths Hall, 1743. With son, Joseph, took out Sun Ins. (No. 159594)on goods at Cross & Griffin, New Bond Street., 1757. Died 1770. 

Joseph Son of Benjamin. 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 Gentlemen Armourer to His Majestys Stables-in-Ordinary, 1760. Gunmaker to His Majesty near the Duke of Graftons, Bond Street., 1763. In partnership with father until 1770, then with John Tow, 1772-82. Died in 1784. Succeeded by John Tow. 

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

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