This single shot percussion pistol fascinates me. The enigmatic inlays and inscriptions are trying to impart the historical story... but I can't break the code. Inscribed on a silver escutcheon on the wrist is -Dr E Cox Delhi '57- So we can deduce that Dr Cox was an English physician in India in 1857. Significant as this is the year the bloody Indian Rebellion began against The British East India Company, who effectively acted as the military arm of England in India. The rebellion started in 1857 and lasted about a year and a half. During this rebellion the English forces in Delhi were forced to blow up their arsenal in a huge explosion that caused great damage and many deaths. At this time the rebels killed great numbers of Englishmen... military and civilian, and thousands of English fled Delhi. The rebels included Hindus of all castes, Muslims, Afghans, Sikhs,... The anti British sentiment was fueled by rumors that the Enfield cartridges issued to the local units under British command were greased with beef fat and pork fat. The beef fat infuriated the Hindus. The pork fat fired up the Muslims.

The pistol is a well made underhammer percussion weapon, nicely stocked with an Indian Elephant ivory butt cap. 164 years old. It is inlaid with a silver arrow, a silver bat wing bearing the letters HIS, the silver named escutcheon on the wrist, and a silver maltese cross with letter R engraved.

The barrel is octagon to round and cannon form.

The history of this gun will be revealed upon determining what the initials H.I.S. on the silver bat wing mean. Also, the significance of the maltese cross with capital letter -R- thereon..

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Very good