Matched Pair of Tow Pistols
date: label: Date made
content: Late 18th century
notes: label: Description
content: This matched pair of pistols was manufactured in the late 1700s for sea service at close range. The barrels were made of bronze, on account of that metal’s resistance to corrosion. The pistol’s wide bore enabled easy loading. The pair was manufactured by John Tow, of Griffin and Tow, who made weapons for the British East India Company. Started in 1600, the publicly-owned EIC traded with the East Indies, China and India until the late 19th century.
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England
topic: label: related event
content: Revolution and the New Nation
label: related event
content: Expansion and Reform
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
label: See more items in
content: Military
label: See more items in
content: Transportation
label: Exhibition
content: On the Water
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Dr. Richard Rathbun
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.289492A
label: catalog number
content: 289492A
label: accession number
content: 59166
objectType: label: Object Name
content: pistol
label: Other Terms
content: pistol; Flintlock; 1.25 In; Smooth Bore; Muzzle Load; 00; Sa
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 1/4 in x 13 3/4 in x 2 in; 13.335 cm x 34.925 cm x 5.08 cm