Pair of Flintlock Pistols
c. 1725
Medium
Walnut, steel, and cast and chased brass
Dimensions
L. 49 cm (19 1/4 in.) Barrel L. 33 cm (13 in.) Caliber .66 Wt. 2 lb. 9 oz. each
Classification
firearm-handgun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116549
Art Historical Context
These elegant Pair of Flintlock Pistols, created by J. J. Behr around 1725, represent the refined craftsmanship of early 18th-century European firearms. Constructed from walnut stocks, steel components, and decorative cast and chased brass, each pistol measures 49 cm long with a 33 cm barrel and weighs just over 2.5 pounds. The .66 caliber design made them practical for personal use while showcasing the gunsmith's skill in blending utility with ornament. Flintlock pistols of this period used a striking flint-and-steel mechanism to ignite gunpowder, a reliable technology that defined firearms ...