Pair of Percussion Officer's Pistol - 347A

This pair dates to around the 1830s the after Henry Nock's death in 1804 and features smoothbore Damascus barrels with post front sights, dovetailed peep and notch rear sights, Birmingham proofs and "TWISTED" on the bottom flats, swivel mounted ramrods, and engraved casehardened breech plugs with inlaid platinum bands. The locks have "H Nock" signed below the bolsters, sliding safeties, and foliate scroll engraving. The mounts have coordinating engraving. The stocks have horn forend caps, silver escutcheons, and checkered bag shaped grips. The pair come in a fitted case with dark green lining, "35" marked ball mold, adjustable measure, "DIXON & SONS/MADE IN ENGLAND" marked flask, screwdriver, nipple wrench, and a key. The case's flat folding handle is inscribed "Captain Alfred Matthews", and the escutcheon is inscribed "R.N." "Royal Naval Biography" Vol. IV Part II from 1835 provides details of Captain Alfred Matthews's (1793-1873) life and service in the Royal Navy. He was the third surviving son of John Matthews of Belmont, Herfordshire and entered the Royal Navy at the age of 11 as a midshipman on the Culloden commanded by Captain Lane. He served on a series of ships under different captains, including on the Tigre commanded by Captain Benjamin Hallowell in Nelson's squadron during the pursuit of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet in the West Indies as well as on the Iphigenia under Captain Henry Lambert. On board the latter, he was involved in an incident with the Boadicea in August 1809 near Mauritius during which the frigate lost its bowsprit and foremast and came under heavy fire but was ultimately able to escape and served in Captain Rowley's squadron during the capture of the Isle of Bourbon the following July. That August, the Iphigenia was part of the disastrous Battle of Grand Port and was captured. Matthews was held at Port Louis until the Isle of France was captured in December 1810. He became a lieutenant under Captain Schomberg on the Astraea on Feb. 11, 1812, and served under Captain William Henry Percy on the Hermes beginning on April 18, 1814. Percy lost 50 of his crew during a failed attack on Fort Bowyer on the Alabama coast and burned the Hermes to prevent its capture. After its loss, Matthews served with the British forces during the famous Battle of New Orleans on in early 1815. He continued on in the Royal Navy and became a captain on July 19, 1822, and commanded the Suriname and Icarus. We have found that he was a resident of Sidmouth in retirement and proved to be somewhat troublesome, including being indicted in 1843 for a "common assault" on William Barrett of Sidmouth and that "the gallant captain" ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge. In 1860, he was noted as a resident of Sidmouth in records for another incident. He published "Fire, Considered as the Seaman's Scourge" in 1866 and died in 1873.

Condition: Fine with 60% original brown finish and distinct Damascus patterns along the barrel, some light pitting, mix of fading original case colors and smooth brown patina on the lock as well as the standing breech and breech plug, dark aged patina on the silver escutcheons, and 95% plus blue finish on the other mounts, and fairly minor overall wear. The forend cap has small loss from insects on the left, but the stock is otherwise very fine and has crisp checkering and minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The relined case is very good with period revarnished exterior and mild age and storage related wear.