Pair of Flintlock Pistols
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel, silver, brass
Dimensions
L. of each 14 7/16 in. (36.7 cm); L. of each barrel 10 1/4 in. (26 cm); Cal. of each .66 in. (16.8 mm); Wt. of each 2 lb. 8 oz. (1134 g)
Classification
Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock
Culture
Scottish
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Blanchard, in memory of her husband, J. Osgood Blanchard, 1916
Accession Number
16.54.1–.2
Art Historical Context
This elegant pair of 18th-century Scottish flintlock pistols exemplifies the masterful gunsmithing of the era, blending functionality with ornate decoration. Crafted from durable steel for barrels and locks, with accents of silver and gleaming brass, each pistol measures 14 7/16 inches in length, with a 10 1/4-inch barrel and .66-inch caliber, weighing a substantial 2 pounds 8 ounces. The flintlock mechanism—revolutionary for its time—relied on a flint striking steel to ignite gunpowder, making these reliable sidearms for cavalry, duelists, or Highland warriors. Hailing from Scotland during a...