Live Auction 14432Noble & Private Collections Part II
A VERY RARE CASED PRESENTATION .450/.476 MARTIN PATENT 'MITRAILLEUSE' FOUR-BARRELLED OFFICER'S PISTOL WITH DETACHABLE FOLDING SHOULDER-STOCK
Lot 623 OTHER PROPERTIES

A VERY RARE CASED PRESENTATION .450/.476 MARTIN PATENT 'MITRAILLEUSE' FOUR-BARRELLED OFFICER'S PISTOL WITH DETACHABLE FOLDING SHOULDER-STOCK

ABRAHAM MARTIN, INVENTOR, SERIAL NO. 1, CIRCA 1881

Closed26 April 2017

Estimate

GBP 4,000–5,000

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A VERY RARE CASED PRESENTATION .450/.476 MARTIN PATENT 'MITRAILLEUSE' FOUR-BARRELLED OFFICER'S PISTOL WITH DETACHABLE FOLDING SHOULDER-STOCK
ABRAHAM MARTIN, INVENTOR, SERIAL NO. 1, CIRCA 1881
With nickel-plated hinged tip-down barrel-block engraved with scrollwork at the breech-ends, the upper rib with blade fore-sight and signed 'A. MARTIN - INVENTOR', scroll engraved nickel-plated action, reblued locking-lever, the scroll engraved side-plates of the action gilt, the left plate engraved 'PRESENTED TO COLONEL JAMES D. DUNDAS BY THE INVENTOR', reblued trigger-guard numbered '1', replacement walnut butt with reblued aperture for the detachable skeletal folding shoulder-stock, and scroll engraved gilt butt-cap, in original lined and fitted oak case, the lid with trade label of William Squires, Gun Manufacturer, 315 A Oxford Street, London.
12 in. (30.5 cm.) overall

Specialist note

Please note that this pistol is a Section 5 prohibited firearm.

The Martin 'Mitrailleuse' pistol pre-dated the famous Lancaster design for four-barrelled pistols by around a year (Patent No. 1531 of 14 April 1880). Initially produced by Thomas Bland & Sons, subsequent contracts were awarded to Thomas Turner and The Braendlin Armoury Co. The Martin pistol failed to achieve the commercial success enjoyed by the superior Lancaster design and it is thought total production amounted to a few hundred examples at most with less than 20 extant pistols having been traced to date.

The recipient of the pistol, Colonel James D. Dundas of the King's Royal Rifle Corps was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 1st October 1881.