An Over and Under Flintlock Pistol

An Over & Under Flintlock Pistol BY DURS EGG, LONDON Durs Egg was born in 1748 in Oberbuchsiten, Switzerland, baptised as Urs Christian. Aft er a short stay in Paris he came to London and worked for John Twigg at 132 Strand.

By Tony Wood

This is an elegant flintlock over and under off icer’s belt pistol with twist octagonal barrels, the upper barrel signed in gold with two gold lines at the breech, gold lined touch holes, engraved case-hardened tang, signed and engraved case-hardened tang, signed and engraved casehardened detented bevelled locks, each with a roller, semi-rain proof pan and engraved safety catch also locking the steel. On the chequered figured walnut stock is a gold baronet’s escutcheon.

The iron butt cap and trigger guard are each engraved with a martial trophy foliage; original iron ramrod with a chequered tip. There are no proof marks.

Durs Egg was born in 1748 in Oberbuchsiten, Switzerland, baptised as Urs Christian. After a short stay in Paris he came to London and worked for John Twigg at 132 Strand. He set up his own business in London and moved to several locations in the Haymarket, The Strand, near Somerset House, Pall Colonnade, Kensington and Kn ightsbridge Green. Egg was a contractor to the Ordnance, was granted several patents, was appointed gunmaker to George IV, the Duke of York.

Unfortunately, he became blind in 1822, and in his last years engaged in various law suits and quarrels with his wife and children. He died in 1831.

Hawker described him as “One of the most extraordinary mechanics in England… He died like a man of genius, in other words, with his balance on the shady side of the book.”

J.N. George in English Pistols and Revolvers refers to an over-and-under type of pistol by Durs Egg which is similar to the one in this article. “The lock action is of a peculiar form invented by this maker, in which both locks are discharged by means of a single trigger, the left-hand lock, communicating with the lower barrel, firing first. The barrels are 8.5 in long, of No 16 bore, and are provided with the usual platinum vents. This pistol is fitted with a belt hook.” The pistol in this article does not have a belt hook, and the right -hand

lock fires first, if both are at full cock.

The concept of mounting the two barrels of a double pistol under and over instead of side-by-side is European rather than English in origin.

This is noted in the description of a pair of English Under & Over Flintlock pistols by Joseph Egg, London, No 2426, circa 1820, in the 2003 catalogue from Peter Finer, St. James, London. The description reads.

“As the two barrels are mounted directly one above the other, without any breech block, it may well be that Durs Egg, who worked with John Twigg before setting up his own account in 1778, was responsible for the incorporation of the European influences in his employer’s work during this period.”

Interestingly, evidence, even if anecdotal, suggests that the single trigger mechanism took a while to perfect. This pair of pistols by Joseph Egg confirm that he brought the single trigger mechanisms to perfection. The right-hand lock will fire first if both locks are at full cock, but the left lock will fire if the right lock was been fired or is at halfcock. These pistols would have been for personal protection of their owner, whether at home, when travelling or in battle. The advantage of the single trigger for both speed and eff iciency is undeniable, and when linked to the compact configuration of the under and over barrel arrangement, once out of their case these pistols could be carried discreetly, ready when required.”

A photo of these pistols shows a singular diff erence. They have the steel spring mounted externally, on the lock plate.

In 1778 when Durs Egg set up on his own account, George III was King and London was starting to enjoy the benefits of the colonial empire. Trade with Africa and India was fruitful, the dark days of the Commonwealth interregnum were history. Gunmakers had government contracts, and private sales of guns produced good income. Piccadilly was no longer a country road leading to the little village of Kensington, and on into the west country.

The gunmakers of London were designing and making sophisticated handguns and long guns for private sale. Writing in 1811 Louis Simond says “rich houses have what are called water closets; a cistern in the upper storey, filled with rain water, communicates by a pipe and cock to a vessel of earthenware, which it constantly washes.” The houses were sophisticated too.

My thanks to Paul Duff y for his assistance in writing this article.

1. 3. 5.

References 1. English Pistols & Revolvers by J N George. 2. Christies catalogue Sale W, Keith Neall Collection 8/11/1995. 3. Peter Finer Catalogue MMIII-Lot 42. 4. Gunmakers of London. Supplement 1350 – 1850 by Howard Blackmore. 5. Heer De Neue Stockel. 6. London Homes by Ralph Dutton

6.