James Low is recorded as apprenticed to John Brooke in 1717 and free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1724 and was active until c. 1753 and is particularly known for his silver mounted "Queen Anne" pistols. The grotesque mask pommel cap has a "JA" silversmith mark and a hallmark. The martial themed wedge escutcheon and side plate are also silver, and the escutcheon is inscribed with the motto "DEUM TIME" in a banner over a crest of a hand with a pierced wrist (hand of Christ) holding an unfurled scroll and a torse at the bottom. The same motto and a crest of a hand and scroll were used by the Murray family of Scotland. The smoothbore "cannon" barrel has a "1" by the lug on the bottom, and the underside of the breech has a corresponding "1" along with "JAMES LOW" over a London proof mark and view mark flanking the "crown/F" foreigner's mark. The barrel unscrews for loading at the breech. The top of the breech has "LONDON," and there is some light scroll, floral, and border engraving. The stock has floral carving around the upper tang.

Fine with attractive aged patina on the silver, mostly silver-gray patina on the iron, some faint pitting, a crack in the frame to the left of the trigger, hairline cracks visible in the cock, and distinct markings. The stock has crisp relief carving, smooth finish, light dings and scratches, and some gaps in the fit to the metal. Mechanically fine. This is a very attractive example of a classic English "Queen Anne" pistol.