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General Gerard Lake at the Battle of Laswari
LOT 3307
British Royal Navy Long Sea Service Flintlock Pistol with Historic 1803 Dated Inscriptions for General Gerard Lake and Commemorating
Service in India During the Second Anglo-Maratha War - NSN, 56 cal.,
12 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Aside from the inscriptions on the trigger guard and
pommel cap, this is a standard Long Sea Service pistol from late 1790s to early 1800s. The trigger guard
is inscribed “GENERAL GERARD LAKE,” and the pommel cap is inscribed “ALIGARH - DELHI - AGRA- LASWARI
-1803 -.” General Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake of Delhi and of Aston Clinton (1744-1808) had a long military career spanning from 1758 during the Seven Years War. He fought at Yorktown during the American Revolution. During the French Revolutionary Wars, he fought as the commander of the Guards Brigade in the ill-fated Flanders
Campaign and as commander-in-chief in Ireland during the Irish Rising of 1798 which he is partially credited with
stirring up through his harsh treatment of the Irish and defeated the French invasion force at the Battle of Ballinamuck. The next segment in his career is what is most relevant to this pistol. In 1800, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in India and arrived in Calcutta in July of 1801. The following year was promoted to full general. In
1803, war broke out between the British East India Co. and the Maratha Empire in the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Lake’s army captured Aligarh Fort at the Battle of Ally Ghur on September 1, 1803, before moving on to capture Delhi on September 11, Agra on October 10, and then finally broke Daulat Scindia’s forces at the Battle of Laswari on November 1
helping secure a treaty with Scindia that December. Lake then turned his attention to the fight against Yashwantroa Holkar’s forces and defeated him the following November at the Battle of Farrukhabad. Lord Cornwallis was sent to replace Lake as commander-in-chief and also Lord Wellesley as governor-general, but died shortly thereafter leaving Lake to continue the fight until he and the EIC came to terms with Holkar. In response to his successes, Lake received the thanks of Parliament, was created first as Baron Lake of Delhi and Laswary and of Aston Clinton. Upon his return from India in 1807, he was raised to viscount and died the following year after serving the empire for half a century.
CONDITION: Very good with light silver-gray patina on the barrel and belt hook, darker gray patina on the lock, natural aged patina on the brass furniture, and minor overall wear. The lightly sanded, reoiled stock is also very good and has light scratches and dings, a repair at the heel on the left, and some loss at the rear of the trigger. Mechanically fine. This is certainly one of the most interesting historical Long Sea Service Pistols.
Provenance: The Richard P. Mellon Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 3308
French and Indian War/Revolutionary War Era
1760 Dated British Pattern 1756 Land Service Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistol by Edge - NSN, 62 cal., 12 inch round bbl.,
bright finish, walnut stock. The lock is marked “EDGE/1760” at the tail and has the Georgian cipher at the center. Very faint traces a regimental marking on top of the barrel. “T5/2” marked on the wrist escutcheon. Stock has raised carved teardrops around the lock and sideplate, and a beavertail apron at the barrel
tang. “JB” marked in the ramrod channel. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the lower left of the grip area above the pommel cap.
CONDITION: Good with scattered mild pitting on the barrel, opened up touch hole, and defined markings on the lock with some light pitting. Brass fittings retain an attractive aged golden patina. Stock is also good as revarnished with numerous scattered scratches and dents, a chip at the lower front of the lock, and cracks visible at the right of the forend, on the underbelly, and above the sideplate. Mechanically fine. A desirable flintlock dragoon pistol that would make a fine addition to any early British martial collection!
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
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