A RARE PAIR OF WATERS PATENT FLINTLOCK BOX-LOCK PISTOLS BY WATERS & CO, PRIVATE PROOF MARKS, NOS. 298 AND 299, CIRCA 1780 with brass barrels and actions formed in one piece, the former in three stages, moulded muzzles, carrying ramrods on the left, fitted with patent spring bayonets beneath the barrels, border-engraved actions signed on the right, inscribed 'Patent' and numbered on the left, fitted with iron sliding thumb-piece safety-catches, border-engraved tangs, figured swelling walnut butts, engraved iron trigger-guards with moulded edges and sliding for bayonet release, brass grotesque mask butt-caps, and vacant silver escutcheons 18.5 cm; 7 1/4 in barrels (2) Provenance The John A. Williams Collection of English Pistols, sold Sotheby's, 22nd May 1979, lot 50 John Waters (1766-88) was granted British patent no. 1284 on 9 March 1781 for attaching bayonets to pistols. He has been credited with the invention of the spring bayonet though this was contested, unsuccessfully, by William Grice. Another pair of pistols built on this patent, numbered 232 and 233 were sold in these rooms, 7th December 2017, lot 277. See Neal & Back p. 123, plate 500.