Late 18th Century British Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol

British light dragoon flintlock pistol late 18th century tower of london
British light dragoon flintlock pistol late 18th century tower of london
British light dragoon flintlock pistol late 18th century tower of london
British light dragoon flintlock pistol late 18th century tower of london

Item #CC-0748 | Late 18th Century British Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol
Origin: London, England
Period: Late 18th Century
Condition: Very Good

Description:

Overall Length- 15in

Barrel Length- 9in

Markings: 2 Tower proofs on barrel, stock marked, Lock marked (TOWER, crown over GR for King George III)

Brass: Brass regulation furniture with a pleasing age patina 

This pistol may have seen service in the American Revolutionary War and the War or 1812.

 

The British Light Dragoon flintlock pistol, produced at the Tower of London in the late 18th century, is a classic example of British military firearm design during the height of the Napoleonic and colonial wars. Designed specifically for the Light Dragoons, a fast-moving cavalry regiment of the British Army, this pistol balanced rugged functionality with battlefield efficiency.

Design & Features

  • Caliber & Construction:
    Typically chambered in .65 caliber, these pistols were large and powerful, intended for close-quarters combat. They featured a smoothbore barrel, usually about 9 inches long, with a strong walnut stock and a brass or iron trigger guard and butt cap.

  • Flintlock Mechanism:
    The ignition system was the standard flintlock mechanism of the period, using a flint striking a steel frizzen to ignite the priming powder in a pan. It was reliable under battlefield conditions and relatively simple to maintain.

  • Simplicity & Strength:
    These pistols were single-shot weapons, carried in pairs by cavalrymen. Their design was intentionally simple—durable enough to withstand the rigors of campaign life and straightforward to manufacture in quantity.

Manufacture at the Tower of London

The pistols were produced under the direction of the Board of Ordnance at the Tower of London Armories, which served as the central hub for British arms production and inspection. Though parts were often made by subcontracted gunsmiths across Britain, final assembly and inspection typically occurred at the Tower, ensuring quality and consistency.

The lock plates of these pistols were often marked “TOWER” and bore the King’s cipher, such as “GR” for King George III, crowned, along with other proof marks from inspection.

Role in Warfare

  • Cavalry Sidearm:
    Light Dragoons were fast-moving mounted troops used for scouting, raiding, and skirmishing. The pistol was designed for use on horseback—easily drawn from a saddle holster and fired at close range during charges or in tight fighting.

  • Napoleonic Wars & Beyond:
    These pistols saw extensive use during the American Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, and various colonial campaigns throughout the British Empire. Their simplicity and effectiveness made them a standard sidearm for decades.

Legacy

Today, Light Dragoon flintlock pistols are prized by collectors and historians for their robust design, military provenance, and role in shaping 18th and early 19th-century warfare. As relics of Britain’s global military expansion, they remain powerful symbols of an era when cavalry still charged with saber and pistol into the smoke of battle.

In stock

$3,500.00