Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1265

Lot 1265:Pair of Silver Mounted H.W. Mortimer Flintlock Holster Pistols

August 26th, 2023|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1265

Lot 1265:Pair of Silver Mounted H.W. Mortimer Flintlock Holster Pistols

August 26th, 2023|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$8,000 - $12,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Exceptional Pair of Silver Mounted and Engraved H.W. Mortimer Flintlock Holster Pistols with Paktong Lock Plates and Hallmarks for 1783

A) H.W. Mortimer Holster Pistol

This late 18th century pair of holster/officer's pistols from Harvey Walklate Mortimer (1753-1819) has smoothbore brass barrels with silver blade front sights with flush inlaid silver "spider" bases, gold vent liners, "-H.W. MORTIMER- -LONDON-" signed on the upper flats, engraved accents including star patterns, "crown/HM" maker's marks flanked by London proof and view marks on the upper left flats, and beaded border designs at the breech ends. The bright iron standing breeches include fixed notch rear sights and have floral engraving. The rare and unusual paktong lock plates are signed "H.W. MORTIMER" and have sliding half-cock safeties, light floral and burst engraving, stepped tails, and frizzen rollers. The furniture is silver and includes acorn finials on the trigger guards, light borders, floral accents, and classical martial trophies. The ramrod tips are also silver. The trigger guard tangs have London hallmarks, including the "h" date codes for 1783 and "MB" maker's marks (Moses Brent). The full-length stocks have checkered wrists. The silver wrist escutcheons are inscribed with griffin heads and torses over the initials "JA." Given these are "carbine bore," the initials may be for the English officer who first owned these pistols at the end of the American Revolutionary War.

ConditionFine overall with attractive aged patina on the brass, silver, and paktong, mostly silver-gray patina on the iron components, and generally light age and storage related wear. The markings and engraving remain distinct. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, some cracks in the forend tip, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Details
ManufacturerBritish
ModelFlintlock Pistol
TypePistol
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge65
Barrel9 1/4 inch part octagon
Finishbrass/paktong/silver
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views856
Catalog page239

B) H.W. Mortimer Holster Pistol

See "A."

ConditionFine overall with attractive aged patina on the brass, silver, and paktong, mostly silver-gray patina on the iron components, and generally light age and storage related wear. The markings and engraving remain distinct. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, a split in the forend tip, small bits of filler at the front wedge, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a very attractive and distinctive pair of British pistols by a renowned gunmaker right at the end of the American Revolutionary War.
Details
ManufacturerMortimer & Son
ModelFlintlock
TypePistol
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge65
Barrel9 1/4 inch part octagon
Finishbrass/paktong/silver
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views856
Catalog page239
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 302Pair of Silver Mounted William Cornforth Flintlock Pistols
View Lot
Lot 301Pair of British Jackson Flintlock Officer's Pistols
View Lot
Lot 1284Cased Pair of Davidson Flintlock Officer's Pistols
View Lot
Lot 1540A.A. White Engraved Silver Mounted Contemporary Kentucky Pistol
View Lot
Show More