Original 18th Century Italian Flintlock Pistol by Michele Lorenzoni of Florence with Intricate Embossed Iron Mountings and Grotesque Butt Cap - circa 1720

Original Item: One of a Kind. This is an amazing early 18th Century Italian flintlock pistol, featuring fantastic embossed iron mountings, which intricately executed and of exceedingly high quality for the time. The bottom of the lock plate is signed Lorenzoni in elegant script, for the well-known Italian Maker Michele Lorenzoni, who worked in Florence and lived from 1684 to 1737. The lock is marked FIRENZE in an arc to the rear of the hammer, the Italian spelling for the City of Florence. Additionally he invented the "Lorenzoni System", a very early breech loading system for flintlock pistols. This is definitely a pistol by a maker with a fantastic history!

The pistol has a lovely 12 3/4" three stage iron barrel, which is 16 sided for the first two stages, becoming octagonal when it gets near the breech. Measuring 19 7/8" in total length, it bears beautiful embossed iron mounts, which display intricate winding foliate designs, even on the tail of the lock plate! The side plate is fantastic, displaying a cannon on a wheeled carriage, with what look to be two men leaning against the wheels, one of which looks to be in hand shackles. There is also armor and stands of arms with the foliate design going through it. The trigger guard is equally impressive as is the fantastic lion grotesque mask on the butt cap. We very rarely see such extensively decorated pistols, and this one is in really great shape!

There is some lovely gold inlay on the top of the barrel, and there is also a touch mark on the very end of the breech, though it has suffered some oxidation on the top line. As best we can tell, it reads:

(Crown)
M??
BA
EZA

Research indicates that the top line should be "MTS", indicating it was made by Master gunmaker Mattias (or Matias) de Baeza, most likely also of Florence, though we have seen some references to him being in Spain. He is also known to have produced barrels for the legendary "Acquafresca" lineage of Italian gunmakers.

The stock is made from beautiful dark wood, most likely some type of walnut, and has a beautiful matured dark red brown color, with great grain. It is not caved as we sometimes see, but with so much decoration already on the pistol, it would hardly need it, and it helps to bring out the exquisite nature of the mountings. Under the barrel is a horn tipped wooden ramrod, which looks to be original and is in great shape. We checked the lock mechanics, and it is fully functional, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full.

A fantastic Italian pistol in just lovely condition with fantastic embossed iron mountings, made in Florence circa 1720 by the famous maker Michele Lorenzoni, with a barrel by the equally famous Mattias de Baeza. Now almost 300 years old, this is ready to cherish and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1720
Caliber: approx. .58 inches
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 12 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 19 7/8 inches
Action: Snaphaunce Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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