This is an example of an English made Howdah pistol manufactured by Thomas Bland & Sons, London, England. Marked "T. BLAND & SONS. 430. WEST STRAND. LONDON." on the solid rib, "T. BLAND & SONS" on the left side plate and "BLAND'S/SINGLE TRIGGER/PISTOL" on the right side. Thomas Bland & Sons was at the 430 West London address beginning in 1886 and remained there until 1900. Each barrel is numbered to the gun and the flats are marked "26", two British proofs and "28/C" inside a diamond, indicating that it has a 28 bore. The underside of each barrel carries an additional "Crown/BP" firing proof from the Birmingham Proof house. The serial number (14791) falls into the 1890-1900 date range (13000-15560). The action, break lever and trigger guard are engraved with decorative borders and the trigger guard is engraved with the initials "GHSIII". The barrels are blue and the remaining metal is casehardened. Interchangeable German silver blade front sight and adjustable buckhorn rear sight. The barrels are smooth. Tang safety with gold marked "SAFE", single trigger, ejector and checkered forearm and saw handle grip with a steel buttcap and lanyard ring on the butt.

Fine. The barrels retain 70% faded original blue finish showing some thinning. The remaining metal surfaces retain 40% original case colors (mostly on the slide plates) otherwise faded to a gray. The wood is fine with a number of minor handling marks and a few gouges in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.