This pair of pistols has London silver hallmarks for 1772 and the maker's mark of John King and were almost certainly made by William Wilson who was made free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1754 and partnered with Richard Wilson, his father, in 1756. He became a master in 1760, 1769, 1772, and 1774, and was a contractor for the Board of Ordnance, the East India Company, and the Hudson's Bay Company. These pistols would have been manufactured in time for use by a British officer during the American Revolution. The two-stage cannon style barrels are chiselled in low relief with a laurel wreath surrounding a flower bloom connected to the rear sighting ribs/flats, and have turned girdles at the transition points. The rounded locks are signed "Wilson" at center and have gold lined pans and small martial motifs in raised relief on the cocks. The figured walnut stocks have extensive silver wire inlaid scrollwork and shell patterns along with silver pin accents. The furniture is all silver and cast and chased with finely detailed scrollwork, martial trophies, flowering foliage, and stippled backgrounds. The ramrods are silver tipped and have an iron worms and are held by single pipes fixed to the bottom of the barrels.

Fine with bright polished lock and barrel, some slight corrosion speckling scattered throughout, distinct signature, and minor aging of the silver mounts. The expertly restored stock is fine and has some repaired cracks, including one through the wrist. Mechanically excellent.

See A.

Fine with bright polished lock and barrel, some slight pitting, distinct signature, light aged patina on the silver, and minor wear. The restored stock is fine with some chips around the lock mortise, repaired cracks/chips at the flats, and light scratches and pressure marks. Mechanically excellent. Overall, this is a very attractive pair of silver mounted English flintlock pistols that were made by a premier maker of the time!