of flintlock pistol form, with large pierced and engraved indicator wheel numbered from '1' to '17' on one side and again in Arabic numerals on the other, mounted on a baluster-shaped mount and acting against a bevelled spring and lever, the latter formed as a peacock, copper alloy cap-shaped anvil fitting against the top of a turned copper alloy chimney above the touch-hole, iron tang stamped with later Indian arsenal marks, flat bevelled lock with border engraved stepped tail, cock pierced with a scroll, figured stock carved with a foliate scroll and fleur-de-lys on the fore-end, mounts in the French fashion comprising flat side-plate pierced and engraved with foliage, vacant crowned escutcheon between lion supporters and above a grotesque mask, spurred pommel with rounded cap and engraved with a floret on each side, and border engraved trigger-guard with foliate finial and decorated with a flower-head on the bow, 31.0 cm

Probably produced at Pondicherry by a French trained Indian gunmaker, or at the Lucknow Arsenal under the direction of Claude Martin. See Elgood 2021, pp.48-64.

Claude Martin was born in 1735 in Lyons, the son of a cooper. He served with the French army 1752-60, when he deserted in India and joined the East India Company forces. Commissioned as Ensign in 1763, he was promoted Captain and appointed Superintendent of Artillery and Arsenals to the Nawab of Oudh. With the rank of Major he established the Lucknow Arsenal in 1779. Under his supervision and training a number of fine arms were produced by European and native armourers, examples of which are in the collections of the Royal Armouries, Leeds. He reached the rank of Major General and died in Lucknow in 1800. For further information on Claude Martin, patron of Zoffany and founder of La Martinière College, see Blackmore 1989.