The maker’s record list these percussion pistols as being completed for Charles Gordon on October 20, 1894. With blued round barrel signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON, 63 PRINCES STREET EDINBURGH” and with bead front sight. Casehardened patent breech with platinum plug engraved with a rosette. Casehardened standing breech incorporating a notch back sight and numbered “1”. Casehardened detented back action lock signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON” on a ribbon and with blued safety catch in front of the hammer. Furniture comprising blued trigger guard and casehardened butt cap, trigger plate, ramrod pipes and barrel key escutcheons. Finely engraved with scrollwork throughout. Well-figured walnut full-length stock with checkered butt. Original brass mounted wooden ramrod with worm. The underside of the barrel with London proof marks and maker's mark “JD&S”.

In near “as new” condition. Barrel retaining near 100% original deep blued finish, signature crisp. Breech, standing breech, lock, trigger plate, butt cap and ramrod pipe each retaining near 99% original casehardened finish. Trigger guard with 99% original blued finish. Engraving crisp throughout. Stocks with crisp checkering to the butts and occasional minor storage and handling marks. Mechanically excellent.

As with “A”, the standing breech numbered “2”. The pair in their original brass bound close fitted oak case lined in tooled pigskin, the lid with brown leather John Dickson & Son trade label with gilt lettering. With accessories including small Allport white metal capper, “IMPROVED No. 32” ball mold, two Hawksley powder flasks, one pigskin wrapped, and nickeled oilers.

As with “A”. Case in excellent condition, some age related rubbing to some of the pig skin lining, lid slightly warped. Accessories in excellent condition, one powder flask a correct sized period replacement. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.