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Introduced in the 1796 and in widespread production by 1802, the New land Cavalry Pistol provide one model of pistol for all of Britain's cavalry and units such as the Royal Horse Artillery. Initially it started out with a rounded brass butt but this soon gave way to a flat butt with ring. The ring allow the pistol to be attached to the cavalryman's equipment and not be lost in the heat of battle. Another new element was the swivel ramrod which greatly improved the process of loading the pistol on horseback.
This particular replica is a copy of an original made by the famous East India Company for British Cavalry serving in the India, who in turn brought them on service elsewhere in the world. The mark of the East India Company, on all original pistols of this model, was the prancing lion and is reproduced here.
The service of British Cavalry regiments, particularly the Light Dragoons, proved essential in the mastery of the Indian Subcontinent. The Duke of Wellington, then Arthur Wellesley, made got recognized for his military genius by his battles in India. Of particular note was the Battle of Assaye in 1803 where the 6000 British faced a Mahratta Army of at least 40,000. During the engagement the 19th Light Dragoons saved the 74th Regiment by charging the enemy guns 'like a torrent that had burst its banks'. Pistols firing and sabre slashing, the 19th broke the enemy's position and the day was won. 19th Light Dragoons gained "Assaye" as a battle honour, and the nickname "Terrors of the East". The 19th Light Dragoons eventually ended up in North America during the War of 1812 and it is likely so did this pistol.
This pattern of flintlock has a 9-inch 62 calibre barrel made with tempered seamless modern steel (type:BS970 no.080M40) with a tight breech plug. As the pictures attest, this is a beautiful pistol. The lock is made with strong durable springs and has a case-hardened frizzen (hammer) that throws good sparks. We use a industrial case-hardening factory process that makes sparking both more reliable and longer lasting. Presently no other musket provider uses this technique.
