| Caption | "In the lawless highland regions of Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries feuds and civil wars were widespread and independence was maintained by force of arms. Firearms were available from the 17th century, gentlemen carried pistols, and duelling was common. Scottish pistols were always exceptionally well-balanced in the hand This is a pair of brass, lemon-butted snaphaunce pistols, or dags, dated 1634. The lock, ramrod and clip are of steel, one with a right-hand lock and the other a left-hand lock. The butts and the long barrels are decorated with roses and interlace, the barrels also with a geometric design. The pistols are thought to have been made by Archibald Gibson of Canongate, Edinburgh, who was listed as a gunmaker in 1644. They carry the inscription 'AG 1634'. Lemon-butted pistols were made between 1625 and 1650, and were an early type, the snaphaunce lock being early too. They were expensive and highly desirable weapons."
Author: Feilden,Rosemary Date: 1999 Purpose: SCRAN
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