John Le Maire Silver Mounted Flint Pistols

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Antique Item #C5190

John Le Maire Silver Mounted Flint Pistols

  • Licensing Category: Antique
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    We are pleased to offer a silver mounted pair of flint pistols built by John (Jean) Lemaire circa 1725.  These pistols were built by Lemaire who was a French Hugenot, naturalized in England in 1710.  He was one of the gunmakers to George 1st in 1719.  The references to the maker and his ancestors is the Blackmore book "Gunmakers of London 1350-1850" at page 132.  This pair of pistols show 10 1/2" swamped barrels and original flint locks showing light engraving and the Lemaire name.  Both pieces show embelished original cocks.  The butt caps, trigger guards, escutcheon side plates and ferrules are all silver.  One of the pieces shows the D assay mark of the 1710 period.  The walking line is the marking for all the English sterling silver, plus the London makers mark.The second pistol does not show the markings on the trigger guard.  This would indicate that at some time this portion of the guard was damaged and repaired.  In addition, the escutcheon shows a silver brad in place.  Both pistols show the barrel markings crown over V inspectors mark and the crown GP mark.  The rammer on the second pistol is a later replacement with a differet cap.  Both locks remain as original flints.  Overall, this pair rates in better than average condition especially considering that this pair of pistols are approximately 300 years old.  John (Jean) Lemarie came from a family of Hugenot gunmakers all of them migrated to England.  There are numerous variation of the sur names.  Lemaire/Lemar/Lemnere and Lamarre.