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“C. B. OBRIENS” POCKET PISTOL – SILVER MOUNTED –
VERY GOOD CONDITION: This is a very nicely
executed percussion pocket pistol with the sort of
quality features which identify it as one which would
have appealed to a gentleman of some means.
Measuring 7 ¾” in overall length, this pistol is mounted
with a 3 ¼” long .36 caliber rifled barrel. The barrel
has is secured with a single barrel wedge and while the
barrel appears to have a patent breech, the barrel,
breech plug and tang are one unit. The barrel’s profile
is unusual with a flat top and bottom, with rounded
profiles on the sides, and these flats appear to have
been hand drawn or filed. There is a simple bead front
sight. The iron tang is chased with some light floral
engraving. The bore is excellent with very distinct
rifling and no pitting. The bottom of the barrel is
mounted with an iron rib.
The lock is stamped with a lightly legible maker mark
“C. B. OBRIENS”. The plate, hammer and hammer screw are
all engraved with an engraved two line edge border. The
lock is fully functional with excellent mechanics - the
hammer holds at both the half and full cock positions
and the trigger let off is very crisp.
The walnut stock is in overall very good condition,
showing some evidence of having been regularly carried,
but not abused. The stock retains its original finish
with a nice even patina. The grip is finely checkered
in matching panels, and the checkering has survived with
distinct diamonds that very little fading and wear. The
short barrel channel retains sharp edges with no wood
loss. There is a short age crack on the right side of
the stock running between the forward edge of the wedge
escutcheon plate and the nose cap, hardly noticeable and
no doubt stable.
The nose cap, wedge plates, ramrod thimble, trigger
guard, wrist escutcheon plate, and butt cap are all made
of silver. The trigger guard bow and the leading
“pineapple” shaped finial, the ramrod thimble and the
butt cap are engraved with considerable detail. The butt
cap features a percussion cap well which is fitted with
spring cover.
The ramrod pipe holds the
ivory tipped ramrod which appears to be original to the
pistol.
C. B. Obriens has been fairly difficult to track down
and establish where and when he was in business. I did
find one relatively obscure reference to him as being
located in St. Michael, South Hampton, Hampshire in
England, however there was no additional information
provided.
This is a very attractive example
of an English gentleman’s Pocket Pistol, and is somewhat
reminiscent of the style of the derringers which had
emerged in the American gun market at that same time.
(0722) $950
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