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VERY RARE BALL’S PATENT ANTI-GARROTTER BELT PISTOL
ON THE ORIGINAL BELT – A VERY UNIQUE AND EXTREMELY RARE
PIECE OF FIREARMS CURIOSA:
As described in the famous
Flayderman & Co. catalog No. 117 (1994), “Considered to
be among the rarest of firearms curiosa”, this very rare
Ball’s Patent Anti-Garrotter Belt Pistol is a very
unique offering. The above cited catalog listing was
for an anti-garrotter pistol in the original case and
was titled “ONLY KNOWN SPECIMEN CASED LABELED PERC BELT
PISTOL”. The text of the description included the
statement that there was another known unmarked specimen
of this same pistol at the time of the publication of
the catalog, and it is possible that this pistol is that
cited specimen.
The set offered by Flayderman was in the original
lacquered iron case, with a printed maker’s
label/instruction sheet mounted in the cover of the case
which included an illustration of the belt and gun, and
the title, “Henry Ball, Mfr of Improved Patent Single &
D.A. Revolvers & Guns….Instructions for Loading Ball’s
Patent Anti-Garrotter.”. It was complete with the full
length leather belt and buckle which featured a lanyard
and pull knob enclosed in a raised rib that ran the
length of the belt. The pistol featured a round 1 ½”
barrel mounted in the center of the plate and the barrel
was stamped with British proof marks and the base plate
was stamped “W. BALL’S PATENT”. The Flayderman set sold
for $5900.
Henry Ball is recorded in the history of British gun
makers as being located at 23 Weaman
Row, Birmingham, England, and employed as a gun
and lock maker from 1849-1868.
Ball’s invention was intended to be worn either at the
front of the body, or at the small of the back pointed
to the rear, where it could be used in defense against
an attacker attempting to garrote - to use a cord or
wire with handles attached with which to strangle – the
victim.
This rare specimen is fully functional and is still
mounted on the original full length leather belt. The
base plate measures 6” long and 3” wide, and the .50
caliber barrel measuring 1 ¼” long, presents in very
good to excellent condition. The base plate, the
barrel, and the plate covering the lock mechanism retain
some scattered traces of the original blue finish, with
most of the surfaces having turned a naturally aged plum
brown. The lock and firing lever function is very crisp
and tight with no play. The cone is complete and is not
deformed. As with the “other known” specimen noted in
the Flayderman catalog listing, this belt pistol is
unmarked.
The pistol base plate is backed with a leather chape and
the assembly is riveted to the center of the black
leather waist belt. The belt measures 1 7/8” wide at
the pistol plate and it tapers to 1” wide at the tips.
The belt is full length with no breaks or other damage,
and it retains the original leather covered buckle and
standing keeper. The surface of the leather exhibits
some flexing as is expected, but the surface retains a
bright shiny surface with no crazing or flaking.
It is worth noting that this is one of only two known
Ball’s Patent Belt Pistols which retain their original
belts.
This Anti-Garrotter Pistol would make a fine addition to
a variety of collections such as gamblers, the river
boat era, as well as examples of patent firearms. As
described by Flayderman, “one of the rarest of firearms
curiosa”, this is a very interesting oddity from the
Victorian age of firearms. (0832) $4250
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