Queen Anne pistols are a type of

breech-loading A breechloader is a firearm in which the user loads the ammunition from the breech end of the barrel (i.e., from the rearward, open end of the gun's barrel), as opposed to a muzzleloader, in which the user loads the ammunition from the ( muzzle ...

flintlock Flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses a flint-striking lock (firearm), ignition mechanism, the first of which appeared in Western Europe in the early 16th century. The term may also apply to a particular form of the mechanism its ...

pistol A pistol is a type of handgun, characterised by a gun barrel, barrel with an integral chamber (firearms), chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French ''pistolet'' (), meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the Englis ...

known as a turn-off pistol, in which the chamber is filled from the front and accessed by unscrewing the

barrel A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden stave (wood), staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers ...

. Another distinguishing feature of the design is that the lock-plate and the breech section (chamber) of the firearm are forged as a single piece. Possibly first made in England, they came in fashion in England during the reign of Queen

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), Annie a ...

(reigned 1702–1714) and are consequently so named. This type of pistol is noted for being made small, so that it could be easily carried and concealed.

Carbines A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and light ...

of this design are also documented.

Design

Queen Anne pistols are

pistols with three defining characteristics. They have a turn-off

, typically with a swelled cannon muzzle, and are chamber-loaded. The body of the pistol (the breech) and the lock-plate are forged as a single piece. The

frizzen The frizzen, historically called the "hammer" or the steel,This may appear anomalous since, in later firearm designs (e.g. percussion locks), the component operating in the same manner as the ''cock'' is called the hammer. is an L-shaped piece of ...

spring is located to the rear of the frizzen rather than the conventional position, in front of it. To the last of these, this is a functional modification, such that the spring's location does not obstruct removal of the barrel for loading. The lock-plate is integral with the body, and is sometimes described as a '' boxlock'' in consequence. It is nonetheless offset to one side with the mechanism assembled either side of the plate and is otherwise a conventional ''sidelock'' design. This is substantially different from the usual use of the term associated with Anson and Deeley patented shotgun design, where the firing mechanism is mounted ''within'' the frame of the firearm rather than off the sides of a lock-plate. Queen Anne pistols are typically

rifled Rifling is the term for helical grooves machined into the internal surface of a firearms's barrel for imparting a spin to a projectile to improve its aerodynamic stability and accuracy. It is also the term (as a verb) for creating such groove ...

. To load, the barrel unscrews (with the aid of a spanner) just in advance of the chamber recess, that is filled with

powder A powder is a dry solid composed of many very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms ''powder'' and ''granular'' are sometimes used to distinguish se ...

. The

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but sometimes ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for s ...

is placed in a conical seat (cup) at the end of the chamber before replacing the barrel. The breech end of the barrel is slightly enlarged to accept the ball. Upon firing, the ball fills the grooves of the rifling to create an effective seal. The design was particularly suited to producing a small pistol that could be easily carried and concealed. They may be referred to as an ''overcoat'' pistol, a ''toby'' or a '' muff'' pistol. Queen Anne pistols usually exhibit a high level of decorative finish and workmanship. File:Toby version of a Queen Anne flintlock pistol.jpg, Toby version of a Queen Anne pistol File:Queen Anne pistol by Clemmes, London.jpg, Queen Anne pistol by Clemmes of London File:Decorated Queen Anne pistol.jpg, A Queen Anne pistol by Turvey of London with exceptional silver decoration File:Mortimer_Queen_Anne_Toby.jpg, Likely ultimate development of Queen Anne design by Mortimer & Co. c. 1805. Folding trigger, bolt safety locking the frizzen, roller on frizzen spring, link on main spring, front sight

References

External links

* {{Commons category inline, Queen Anne pistols Anne, Queen of Great Britain Black-powder pistols Early firearms Pistols of the United Kingdom Single-shot pistols

Design

See also

References

Further reading

External links