October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Attributed to Thomas Caddell. Pistol is believed to have belonged to Gordon Stewart of Drumin, an active Jacobite who lived in Drumin, a small village near the Glenlivet Distillery. Stewart never participated in Culloden, but was later taken prisoner and carried to London where he was executed in 1746. One of his descendants wrote a letter in 1843 that discusses his absence “He had ordered his horse and put on long boots for riding, and everything being ready, he sat down to breakfast. His wife in making tea, contrived as if by accident to pour boiling water out of the tea-kettle into one of his boots, which burnt and blistered his leg so much that he could not ride or walk for sometime, and before he could leave home, the Battle of Culloden had been fought." Gordon also appears in a list of officers who joined Lord Lewis Gordon on his way to merge with the Gordon Brigade. The all steel barrel, octagonal at breech with three wedding bands and swelled octagonal at muzzle. Steel ramrod, beautifully turned, appears to be original. Original belt hook is intact and measures 7" overall. Raised back sight integral with breech. The elegant all steel ramshorn butt stock engraved throughout its length with scrolls and thistles. A silver band inlaid behind rear sight reading "DRUMIN" for Drumin village. The spine elaborately and finely inlaid with silver scrolls. The right side inlaid with large silver plaque and beautifully engraved heraldic crest of the Stewarts with Stewart motto "Corde et Manu" (Trans: Hand and Heart). Left side inlaid with a silver plaque "Gordon Stewart 1713 - 1745." Possibly commemorative Culloden, as Stewart was executed for Jacobite sympathies in 1746. The original trigger of silver with an expanded flower, pricker of silver en suite with an expanded flower. Ramshorn steel part of stock inlaid with engraved silver. The plain lock, unsigned, signature possibly worn. Swan neck cock with pierced five pointed star rowel. CONDITION: Barrel with smooth worn patina and some wear to engraving as expected of a pistol carried and used for years. Stock with some wear to engraving but no real pitting. Silver plaques with crisp easily legible engraving. Pricker and trigger appear to be original to the piece. Lock with wear to what once was engraving, but no pitting to speak of. All small parts on lock appear to be original. Action functions as it should. Bore is good. The form of this pistol is elegant and exemplifies the very best of Scottish weapons artistry. This is probably the most historical and easily researchable pre-Culloden Scottish pistol that has been offered in many years. PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, May 2000, Lot 729, where it brought £8,970, approximately $14,500 at the time. MZ
Caliber/Bore
.54 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Caddell, Attributed
Model
Scottish All-Metal Pistol