An Italian 50-Bore Snaphaunce Long Belt Pistol
First Half Of The 18th Century
With slender barrel turned at the girdle, octagonal breech and plain tang, rounded lock engraved with scrolling foliage inhabited by a serpent's head, chiselled details on the engraved cock and steel, the former chiselled with a mask on the cock-retaining bolt, moulded figured full stock (butt split through) carved with a foliate scroll on both sides at the rear ramrod-pipe (fore-stock mostly replaced), steel mounts comprising side-plate pierced and chiselled with a foliate scroll involving monster-heads and a profile grotesque mask, foliate engraved spurred pommel with chiselled grotesque mask cap, trigger-guard with pierced foliate finial, baluster ramrod-pipes, slender belt hook, and wooden ramrod (some wear and rust patination)
36 cm. barrel