A Pair of 18th Century, Brass Barreled, 14 Bore, Flintlock Pistols, Signed "Ketland & Co"., "London". Circa 1790

Name: A Pair of 18th Century, Brass Barreled, 14 Bore, Flintlock Pistols, Signed "Ketland & Co"., "London". Circa 1790
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1103145
Availability: SoldOut

18th century

Sold by Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Description

The pair of Flintlock pistols with tapering brass barrels, struck with proof marks and inscribed ‘London’, in linear frames over the breeches. Signed border-engraved locks, full stocks and brass mounts of livery type. Including butt-caps, flush-fitting side-plates, trigger-guards and vacant escutcheons, and brass-tipped ramrod.

Circa 1790.

Thomas Ketland & Co. was a firearms manufacturer founded in Birmingham, England c. 1760.

Thomas Ketland Senior, was a highly successful Birmingham gun maker. He started his business around 1760 and expanded into the export market around 1790. He died in 1816. The business carried on until bankruptcy in 1821. The company manufactured flintlock pistols, becoming quite successful in its field.

W. Ketland was Thomas Ketland Sr's eldest son. He was originally a partner alongside his father and William Walker. He petitioned to liquidate his part in the company in 1800. The partnership was dissolved in 1801. He died in 1804 but the business carried on to at least 1831. The story about an earlier W. Ketland gunmaker, going back to the 1740s (Gardner says 1715), is not verified. The directory dates are 1808 to 1831 but W. Ketland was trading under that name as early as the middle of 1801 and perhaps as early as the end of 1800. The Philadelphia Ketlands are 2nd son Thomas Jr. and John. Thomas Jr. resided in Philadelphia from 1789 to 1815. John died there in 1800. They never manufactured weapons. They were merchant princes, not mechanics and arms were only a small part of their business. Around 1801, Ketland Co. began trading overseas and the company ceased operations around 1831.

William Ketalns, Sr., had two other grandsons, Thomas and John Ketland, both gunsmiths who worked on a co-operative basis with William Ketland under the name Ketalnd & Co. However, Thomas and John emigrated foto the USA in 1780. A number of American Kentucky rifles had Ketalnd & Co locks.

Ketland & Co flintlock pistols and fowling pieces are noted for their fine workmanship and design.

A. Merwyn Carey (1954) English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers, Acro Publishing Company, New York.

For condition which I think is excellent especially considering age, please view my photos.

Measurements

Barrel length 22cm

Overall length 36cm

Weight Each 110 grams

Declaration

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria has dated this piece to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1103145

Dealers Internal Reference

311042

Dealers Notes

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria, Portobello Road

WE are open every Saturday between 9.30 - 3.30pm in Chelsea Galleries 67 Portobello Road London.

We are at the front of the gallery, on the 1st aisle.

Web page:-

https://peterharrisclocks.com/welcome/

Description

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Including butt-caps, flush-fitting side-plates, trigger-guards and vacant escutcheons, and brass-tipped ramrod.

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

fig 1. A Pair of 18th century, brass barreled, 14 BORE, FLINTLOCK PISTOLS, SIGNED — fig 1. A Pair of 18th Century, Brass Barreled, 14 Bore, Flintlock Pistols, Signed "Ketland & Co"., "London". Circa 1790

Circa 1790.

Thomas Ketland & Co. was a firearms manufacturer founded in Birmingham, England c. 1760.

Thomas Ketland Senior, was a highly successful Birmingham gun maker. He started his business around 1760 and expanded into the export market around 1790. He died in 1816. The business carried on until bankruptcy in 1821. The company manufactured flintlock pistols, becoming quite successful in its field.

fig 2. A Pair of 18th century, brass barreled, 14 BORE, FLINTLOCK PISTOLS, SIGNED — fig 2. A Pair of 18th Century, Brass Barreled, 14 Bore, Flintlock Pistols, Signed "Ketland & Co"., "London". Circa 1790

W. Ketland was Thomas Ketland Sr's eldest son. He was originally a partner alongside his father and William Walker. He petitioned to liquidate his part in the company in 1800. The partnership was dissolved in 1801. He died in 1804 but the business carried on to at least 1831. The story about an earlier W. Ketland gunmaker, going back to the 1740s (Gardner says 1715), is not verified. The directory dates are 1808 to 1831 but W. Ketland was trading under that name as early as the middle of 1801 and perhaps as early as the end of 1800. The Philadelphia Ketlands are 2nd son Thomas Jr. and John. Thomas Jr. resided in Philadelphia from 1789 to 1815. John died there in 1800. They never manufactured weapons. They were merchant princes, not mechanics and arms were only a small part of their business. Around 1801, Ketland Co. began trading overseas and the company ceased operations around 1831.

fig 3. A Pair of 18th century, brass barreled, 14 BORE, FLINTLOCK PISTOLS, SIGNED — fig 3. A Pair of 18th Century, Brass Barreled, 14 Bore, Flintlock Pistols, Signed "Ketland & Co"., "London". Circa 1790

William Ketalns, Sr., had two other grandsons, Thomas and John Ketland, both gunsmiths who worked on a co-operative basis with William Ketland under the name Ketalnd & Co. However, Thomas and John emigrated foto the USA in 1780. A number of American Kentucky rifles had Ketalnd & Co locks.