The Griffin family were highly regarded 18th century London gunmakers and became gunmakers to the Royal Family. They are also believed to have been the first 18th century makers of double barreled firearms. Following the death of Benjamin Griffin in 1770, Joseph Griffin took John Tow who had worked with the Griffins for some years into partnership in 1771 placing this present pair of pistols amongst the first made under the name Griffin & Tow. The present pair are described and illustrated on pages 116 and "British Gunmakers Messrs. Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, 1740-1790" by W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back who date them to circa 1771. The pistols feature slightly swamped round barrels each engraved with a band of beadwork at the muzzle. Figured walnut bag-shaped butts each with silver wrist escutcheons and pommel caps with relief cast and chased martial and scroll ornamentation, floral and scroll Rococo engraving to the breech ends of the barrels and the boxlock actions, the latter signed "GRIFFIN & TOW" on the left side and "LONDON" on the right, London proof marks. Interesting crescent shaped sliding safeties locking both cocks, and dark wooden ramrods with horn tips.

See "A." Provenance: The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection