Original Cased C1830’s Large Frame, English Thomas Tipping (Lawden) London (Later Tipping & Lawden) Double Hammer Percussion 4 Barrel 50 Bore Pistol With Turn Over Rotating Barrel Cluster & Accessories, Case To Royal Navy Captain Spencer Vassall. Sn 21366 .50 Muzzleloader

Original Cased C1830’s Large Frame, English Thomas Tipping (Lawden) London (Later Tipping & Lawden) Double Hammer Percussion 4 Barrel 50 Bore Pistol With Turn Over Rotating Barrel Cluster & Accessories, Case To Royal Navy Captain Spencer Vassall. Sn 21366 - 21366

The English gunmaking firm of Tipping & Lawden was the trade name partnership between Thomas Tipping Lawden and Caleb Lawden, who established themselves as gun, rifle and pistol makers at 40 Constitution Hill in 1837, expanding to 40 & 41 Constitution Hill in 1852. Webley & Son took over the Business in 1877 (see page 208 of British Gunmakers Vol.1 by Brown). Sir Spencer Lambart Hunter Vassall born 1799, entered the Royal Navy in 1812 and saw action on the North Coast of Spain on HMS Venerable, the attack on the French at Lequeytio and at the destruction of fortifications at Bermeo & Plencia, he became acting commander of the sloop Éclair, then in 1831 on the Harrier served in the East Indies where he was active in the suppression on piracy in the straits of Malacca (copies of excerpts from period RN records accompany this pistol). This is an excellent Victorian C1830’s percussion large frame pistol with revolving 4 barrel cluster by Thomas Tipping Lawden London before he went into partnership with Caleb Lawden. Its smooth bore barrels are 3 ½” in length and the pistol measures 8 ¾” overall length. The barrel’s bores have just light staining consistent with age. Its steel frame in the white is undamaged with nice even patina throughout. It has foliate engraved decoration to the metal work. The barrel cluster is stamped with English black powder proof marks. The pistol's bag shaped walnut grip has fine chequering and is undamaged. The steel butt has a trap with hinged lid. The back of the wrist has a white metal escutcheon with engraved stylised monogram. The pistol has double hammers and triggers & cocks and dry fires perfectly as does the revolving barrel action. The gun has a brass bead fore sight and grooved barrel cluster rear sight. The pistol is contained in its original wood case with hinged lid. The top of the lid is inlaid with a central brass shield engraved to ‘Captain Spencer Vassall’. The case has a brass lock (key absent). The case is lined with green felt and has compartments which contain accessories including an empty wooden box with removeable lid, a tin with removeable lid which contains a quantity of percussion caps, a pistol size ‘Sykes’ (Sheffield) copper and brass black powder flask with sprung nozzle, a steel ball mould marked ‘53’, a nipple tool with ebony handle and a brass tool with turn off cap that reveals a worm. The price for this desirable pistol worthy of further research regarding the named Captain includes UK delivery. NB as an antique percussion pistol no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21366

£2,850.00