This is a fair quality French flintlock pistol that was originally manufactured by Joseph l'Aine Lamotte of St. Etienne, France circa 1667-1682. The letters "D" and "R" are stamped on either side of the trigger guard finial. Consignor documents state that this marking stands for "Department of Repairs". Under direction from General George Washington, Brigadier General Henry Knox established the Department of Repairs, a civil branch of the Ordnance Department, in 1777, headed by Colonel Benjamin Flower. The Department's mandate was to take arms which were damaged beyond the skills of field armorers, as well as weapons seized from civilians who did not support the war, and refurbish them in order to alleviate the shortage of working arms among the Continental Army. General Knox was, at that time, Washington's Chief of Artillery, later founder of the Springfield Armory, America's first Secretary of War, and namesake of Fort Knox, and Col. Flower would also be responsible for removing the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia before the British entered the city in 1777. The pistol has a half-round/half-octagon barrel with slightly flared muzzle. There is simple, gold-filled engraving at the muzzle, surrounding the iron front sight blade on the top of the barrel flats and at the tang. The lock has a pronounced tip, fenced iron pan and pierced, gooseneck hammer. The lock face is engraved: Joseph Lamotte/Laine" in two lines below the pan. The pistol has iron ramrod pipes, side plate, trigger guard and strapped buttcap. The European walnut stock has relief carved borders surrounding the ramrod pipes, trigger guard finial and back strap, side plate and barrel tang. The pistol has a wooden ramrod with ebony tip. The carving surrounding the tang terminates in detailed floral scrollwork. Due to the use of privately acquired and heirloom pistols among the officers of General Lafayette's army, it is unknown if this pistol was brought over by the French forces, or was acquired from a colonist.

Fine. The pistol is in exceptional condition for a 17th century weapon. The surfaces of the barrel, lock and iron furniture have an untouched, gray-brown patina. Metal surfaces are smooth with the exception of some light-moderate flash pitting on the barrel and adjacent areas of the hammer and pan. The stock shows moderate wear and has scattered light dents and handling marks but is free from cracks or damage and shows no sign of repair. The relief carvings show only light-moderate edge wear. This is a fine example of a high quality 17th Century French flintlock pistol with Revolutionary War "Department of Repair" markings. Documented Revolutionary War weapons are seldom encountered at all, let alone in this nice of condition!