Manufactured circa 1770-1800. John Bass is known to have produced high end flintlock pistols including pocket, coach, and dueling pistols. Bass partnered with his father-in-law John Twigg, himself considered one of the most talented gun makers of the era, to form Twigg & Bass in the 1780s and continued to work under his own name after Twigg's death circa 1790. This fine pistol has a brass barrel marked "LONDON" with a small blade front sight. The lock plate has light engraving at the tail end and is marked "BASS" under the pan. It has a roller type frizzen spring and a gooseneck cock. Complimentary engraving is present on the barrel tang, the barrel at the breech, the trigger guard (with pineapple style finial), and on some of the small components. It is mounted on a nicely figured walnut stock with a flat sided grip with notches and an initial plate and includes a ramrod with a horn tip.

Very good. The barrel and other brass components have an attractive aged patina. The lock and other components have a dark brown patina with some minor pitting. The cock may have been replaced and has a darker "blued" appearance. There are bright strike scrapes on the frizzen. The re-oiled and repaired stock has a few minor dings, a repair at the forend tip, a cut out above the lock plate, and a small crack at the breech on the left side at the rear screw. Mechanically very good with clear markings.