Horst Held   =   Antique Handguns

  e-mail   held@ectisp.net
phone  972-775-8704           fax  972-775-3553
541 Lynnie Pennie Lane              Midlothian, Texas 76065

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the pair are older than dueling pistols, perhaps fore-runners

 

Griffin
 Støckel: Joseph Griffin, mentioned 1750 - 1787, in 1750 member of the guild, registered in 1759 his marquee, 1762 - 1764 guild-master. In 1770 association with John Tow. In an English book he is listed as started in the late 1740's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

trigger guard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an exceptional pair of long-barreled horse pistols made between 1750 and 1769, the year the name changed to Griffin & Tow. A more experienced collector is certain "about 1750". The caliber is circa .65, smooth bore, circa ten inch barrels with gold-inlaid GRIFFIN, LONDON, gold inlaid master stamp, and a shell surrounded by gold. The engraved look shows GRIFFIN, full stocked decorated with silver inlaid wire, butt caps with grim  looking faces, highly decorated trigger guard, counter lock. Proof stamps are on the trigger guard, and the escutcheon shows eagle and  intertwined letters. Related to its age the pistols show very fine pitting .
The rare and desirable pair  is sold

 

 

Hi,
I'm a collector of Griffin's & do talks on them. You have beautiful pair of pistols there. If I may help there were two Griffins, the father Benjamin started business in 1735 but did not belong to the Gunmakers Co. so his guns generally are marked "F" on the barrel or a unauthorized "GRIFFIN in a diamond" . Between 1750-1759 there are only a GP and V , because son Joseph was an Apprentice there were no other marks. In 1760 Jos. got his Makers Mark "IG". The father & son were in business till 1772 when Benj. died. Tow (cousin) became the new partner "Griffin & Tow" started & ended in 1783 when Jos. died. The Silvermarkers mark on your pistols is "JA" I believe, Jeconiah Ashley who worked for them until 1759 when John King "IK" started. I hope this will help you date them. 
Regards
Paul T. Heneghan 

NS: I was checking the net and found your wonderful Griffins again with 
my note. so I checked .  The hallmark date is 1763, guess he still used
Jeconiah Ashley  a long with John King.