FRENCH LIGHT DRAGOON AND BOARDING PISTOL
Muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock pistol, 7 1/2" barrel, 13 1/2" overall, approx. .67 caliber. The frame is of brass with a steel barrel, with no distinct lockplate. The iron ramrod is secured within a hole on the front-right of the frame. The name of the Maubeuge arsenal, where this weapon was manufactured, is engraved in a half-circle around the bottom of the hammer. The proof mark of this arsenal also appears just behind the pan and again on the bottom of the trigger guard. The top of the barrel at the breech end is stamped "82", with a small initial "P", indicating a date of manufacture of 1782. The right side of the grip bears the incised initials "I B", and letter "F" is faintly incised on the left side of the grip near the barrel tang, with two additional indistinct initials beneath. The lock is very strong, and the hammer cocks and fires smartly. A flint is present in the jaws of the hammer. Interestingly, this example retains its original iron belt clip, attached to the left side by a screw at the bottom of the frame. This clip was eliminated in later examples, and was often removed by users in the field. In additional to cavalrymen, this pistol was often used by naval boarding parties, and large numbers were supplied to American troops during the Revolutionary War. The first official American military the pistol, the M-1799, was closely patterned after the M-1777. An approx. 1/4" sliver of wood is missing from the stock just behind the pan, and the weapon shows minor oxidation and age wear throughout, else very good.