Queen Anne pistols are a type of breech-loading

flintlock Flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses a flint-striking lock (firearm), ignition mechanism, the first of which appeared in Western Europe in the early 16th century. The term may also apply to a particular form of the mechanism its ...

pistol A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...

known as a turn-off pistol, in which the

chamber Chamber or the chamber may refer to: In government and organizations * Chamber of commerce, an organization of business owners to promote commercial interests *Legislative chamber, in politics * Debate chamber, the space or room that houses delib ...

is filled from the front and accessed by unscrewing the

barrel A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...

. Another distinguishing feature of the design is that the lock-plate and the breech section (chamber) of the firearm are forged as a single piece. Possibly first made in England, they came in fashion in England during the reign of Queen Anne (reigned 1702–1714) and are consequently so named. This type of pistol is noted for being made small, so that it could be easily carried and concealed. Carbines of this design are also documented. Toby version of a Queen Anne flintlock pistol

Toby version of a Queen Anne flintlock pistol

Design

Queen Anne pistols are

pistols with three defining characteristics. They have a turn-off

, typically with a swelled cannon muzzle, and are chamber-loaded. The body of the pistol (the breech) and the lock-plate are forged as a single piece. The

frizzen The frizzen, historically called the "hammer" or the steel,This may appear anomalous since, in later firearm designs (e.g. percussion locks), the component operating in the same manner as the ''cock'' is called the hammer. is an "L"-shaped piece o ...

spring is located to the rear of the frizzen rather than the conventional position, in front of it. To the last of these, this is a functional modification, such that the springs location does not obstruct removal of the barrel for loading. The lock-plate is integral with the body, and is sometimes described as a '' boxlock'' in consequence. It is nonetheless offset to one side with the mechanism assembled either side of the plate and is otherwise a conventional ''sidelock'' design. This is substantially different from the usual use of the term associated with Anson and Deeley patented shotgun design, where the firing mechanism is mounted ''within'' the frame of the firearm rather than off the sides of a lock-plate. Queen Anne pistols are typically rifled. To load, the barrel unscrews (with the aid of a spanner) just in advance of the

recess, that is filled with

powder A powder is a dry, bulk solid composed of many very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms ''powder'' and ''granular'' are sometimes used to distin ...

. The

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but can sometimes be ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used f ...

is placed in a conical seat (cup) at the end of the chamber before replacing the barrel. The breech end of the barrel is slightly enlarged to accept the ball. Upon firing, the ball fills the grooves of the rifling to create an effective seal. The design was particularly suited to producing a small pistol that could be easily carried and concealed. They may be referred to as an ''overcoat'' pistol, a ''toby'' or a '' muff'' pistol. Queen Anne pistols usually exhibit a high level of decorative finish and workmanship. Queen Anne pistol by Clemmes, London

Design

Notes

Further reading