This exceptional all-metal Scottish pistol was made by the famed Leith gunmaker Thomas Murdoch circa 1770-1780 and is representative of the evolved form of the Highland pistol with its distinctive “ram’s horn” butt. With a four-stage barrel featuring a slightly flared octagonal muzzle and fluted breech section, the last incorporating a notch rear sight and gold-lined vent, and the whole finely engraved with scrollwork against a matted ground. The flat beveled lock is signed ‘T. MURDOCH’ and has a safety stop which protrudes through the face of the lock to hold the half-cock position and retracts when the trigger is pulled. The stock of the pistol features nearly full coverage scroll engraving with silver accents, the flanks of the butt and wrist each with domed vacant silver oval. The button trigger and ball to the threaded vent pick fitted between the ram’s horns on the butt are capped in silver and each engraved with a stylized thistle flower-head. An engraved and chiseled belt hook with an elaborately pierced finial is mounted to the left side of the stock, and the pistol has a turned iron ramrod. The pistol is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by F. Theodore Dexter of the Academic Arms Center of America in Burbank, California, dated May 2, 1958. A receipt from Dexter dated the same day for the present pistol and a pair of Scottish pistols by Campbell accompanies this lot. The receipt lists this pistol as being sold for $465.00 and notes that this pistol was from W. Keith Neal. Provenance: The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Hart Isaacs Collection; F. Theodore Dexter; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very fine with crisp engraving and markings, natural aged patina on the silver, light age on the gold, and silver-gray patina on the iron along with some faint oxidation. Crack visible on the lock behind the hammer. Mechanically excellent.