Tower Long Sea Service Pistol

A Good Long Sea Service Pistol by The Tower

The is a fine standard issue Tower built Long Sea Service that served in the British Navy from approximately 1740 to 1840.  This model has the long ears on the brass butt-cap and the full length barrel.  It is fully stocked in best English Walnut and has a 12″ .58 caliber round barrel.  The weapon is smooth bored.

These pistols were relatively plain in construction as always proposed to be a military weapon and therefore fairly rugged.  It is a Flintlock with a single shot capacity and the ability to be neatly “flipped around” in the hand to become a handy cuduel for hand to hand combat.  Overall it measures 19.1/2″ in length.  It has a 12″ wooden brass tipped ramrod which stores under the barrel.  Within the ram-rod channel are faint marks struck into the timber towards the grip end.  The ram-rod looks to be a replacement.

On removing the lock there is evidence of faint inspection marks upon the reverse.  The outside of the lock is boarder engraved with “TOWER” behind the cocking piece and the royal crown and cypher in the centre over “G.R” for George Rex.  A horizontal small crown and arrow are clear underneath the Pan.

The cocking piece is what is termed the ‘Swan-neck’ type – and fairly crude, as this was discovered to be the weakest part of the weapon in usage and could possibly be a replacement.  The plain frizzen (or striker plate) which closes over the priming pan is also spring loaded.  The mechanism is all mounted on a flat border engraved lock-plate.  Both springs are strong in operation.  As time has passed, it is reasonable to say, that these weapons were worked on by people who were less than careful, with them, than we are today.  To this end, there is a mark on the barrel which gives the impressions that someone has tried to seperate the barrel from the hut. The breech end of the barrel carries two London, Black Powder proofs but there is also something else which could be a barrel makers mark.  It is possible that it reads “* / I.O” but that is always debatable.  However, whatever they are, they are from the time of its production.  There is also a single crown on the rear of the barrel tang.  A small quantity of inspection / acceptance stamps are visible on the walnut stock in all the usual places.

The belt hook could be a replacement despite the “Crown” stamped into the rear section of it.  A fine representative example of the famous Sea Service pistol that helped Britania Rule the Waves over two hundred years ago.  A must for any martial or Maratime Weapons Collector.

Antique – No License Required

£ 2450.

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