Stephen Lowdell is recorded in the Sussex town of Lewes in the mid-1820s. With round browned damascus barrel with slightly raised concave sighting rib fitted with a bead front sight and signed “Lewes” in script towards the breech end. Casehardened patent breech engraved with foliage, fitted with a pierced platinum plug and inlaid with a platinum line. Grooved standing breech, lock and furniture engraved with foliate scrollwork throughout. The detented lock has a sliding safety catch behind the hammer and is signed “S. LOWDELL” within a ribbon. Furniture including casehardened trigger plate with pineapple finial and blued trigger guard. Well-figured walnut three quarter length stock with fine multipoint checkered bag shaped butt and a dark horn cap to the forearm. Blank silver rectangular initial escutcheon to the wrist and silver barrel key escutcheons to the forearm. With captive iron ramrod with stirrup. Birmingham proof marks.

Fine. The barrel retaining 90% plus original browned finish, signature crisp. The breech retains 85% original casehardened finish. The exposed surface of the standing breech and lock are a light grey patina with clear engraving. The face of the standing breech retains much strong original casehardened finish as does the inside face of the hammer. The inside of the lock mechanism is brightly burnished. The trigger plate retaining 70% original casehardened finish, and the trigger guard and ramrod pipe have around 60% original blue finish. Minor oxidation is present. The stock has scattered minor age related storage and handling marks, checkering is sharp. Mechanically excellent.

See “A”. In fitted brass bound mahogany case lined in burgundy velvet, with some accessories including two powder flasks and a brass mounted loading rod with worm.

Fine. The barrel retaining 90% original browned finish with a rubbed patch on the rib in front of the signature. The breech retains 85% original case colors. The lock exterior and standing breech are a gray patina and have crisp engraving. Strong original case colors remain on the inside of the hammer. The lcok interior is bright. The trigger guard and ramrod pipes retain 85% originial blue finish. Minor oxidation is present. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering and minor age related storage and handling marks. The case is in good condition; the lid has a crack, and there are age related storage marks throughout. Lining is in good condition with some fading and rubbing from the pistols. One powder flask is dented. The other is in very fine condition and retains most of its lacquered finish. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.