This fascinating 48 bore (.46 caliber) pistol is signed "Vorra" (town near Nuremberg) on the lock and has a "GS/fish" maker's mark on the barrel at the breech and on the inside of the back action lock. A c. 1680 "flintlock pistol, with rear loading for paper cartridges" is noted with that maker's in "Der Neue Stockel" 8322 on p. 1248 as from c. 1680 referencing either this exact pistol or another like it. It is also featured in "The Visser Collection Vol. 1 Part 4" by G. de Vries and B.J. Martens on pages 552-553. Pushing up on the lever ahead of the trigger guard causes the breech block to slide upwards to allow loading from the breech end. The block has a flash channel to allow the flash to pass from the vent to the powder charge. The smoothbore barrel has a wedding band transition. The lock has some floral engraving. The pommel cap has a chiseled and pierced floral design. The stock has a partial inventory number in white on the left by the trigger. Provenance: The Henk L. Visser Collection; Property of a Gentleman