The Irish Constabulary Percussion "Undercover" Pistol.

The Irish Constabulary Percussion 

" Undercover" 

Police Pistol.1848.

        George Lovell's "Undercover" Percussion Pocket Pistol.  9.5" Overall with a 4.5" 17 bore           smooth bore round barrel with captive ramrod.

A total of  five hundred of this type of arm were produced for the Board of Ordnance in 1848. This is the last of the smooth bore pistols designed by George Lovell. Refer:British Military Firearms 1650-1850 by Howard L. Blackmore. pages 213&223.. They were ordered in 1847 and manufactured by Hollis Brothers in Birmingham. Interestingly they were issued with leather cases (holsters?). We would be pleased to know if anyone has one of these pistols in the original case/holster.

 

                                                                   Marked Tower 1848

Crowned "VR", London Proof marks, B/O mark and Constabulary number "C-200".

                           B/O mark with broad arrow to stock and inspectors number 15.

Blackmore describes these are as used "when serving in plain clothes on special duty". He also notes that they are "registered" which they were i.e., C-1 to C-500 presumably? This registering was not part of the 1843 Registration Act as this legislation was repealed in 1846.

                 Our thanks to the owner for photography and permission to publish.                                          

                                            Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk