John Twigg
With slightly swamped 9 ¾ inch rebrowned octagonal sighted barrels of pronounced stub twist, each with second form of signature along the top flat in front of the back-sight, foliate engraved shaped tangs, signed flat bevelled locks (one replaced by Alexander Wilson) each with stepped tail, intercepting sear, and divided blued steel-spring with two links working independently, the border engraved steels each with detachable safety-cover released by a sprung stud, figured full stocks each carved with a shell in relief behind the barrel tang, rounded flat-sided butts, blued iron mounts comprising trigger-guards each with acorn finial and decorated with a flowerhead within border engraving on the bow, turned ramrod-pipes, scroll triggers, original horn-tipped ramrods, one with worm, and some original finish: in original lined and fitted brass-bound mahogany case with accessories including brass-mounted leather-covered three-way flask painted in imitation of tortoiseshell, together with a packet of flints inscribed in ink ‘Pistol Flints’ and two Alexr Wilson business cards, the interior of the lid with trade label of Alexander Wilson, Sherrand Street, Golden Square, London, the exterior (split) with folding brass carrying handle of Chippendale form, London proof marks.
Provenance: William Keith Neal Collection.
Literature: W. Keith Neal; ‘Collecting Duelling Pistols’ p.9 pl.16 ‘Pistols for Two’ The Saturday Book pp. 158-159.
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back ‘Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790’ pp. 50-52, 134-135, pls. 110-114 (see notes below)
‘British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards Cases & Equipment, 1760-1860’ pl. 309.
Note: Keith Neal fired one of these pistols and states: ‘This pistol handles as well or better than anything we have ever seen made by this great gunsmith’. – ‘This pistol is in the best Twigg tradition and by good fortune has remained in fine state, as good as when it left his workshop’.