Percussion Pocket Pistol .. by H-NOCK:

 I've been investing again (buying) - this wee antique pistol is the kind I enjoy - and I bought it for two main reasons .. 

1/- It was cheap.

2/- It has the magic name H-NOCK engraved on the left face of it's boxlock action. - It also has 'LONDON' fainter & eroded in an oval on the R/H side.

Like myself .. it is a tatty old thing that has seen better days - and it has been covered with some chemical blacking (sprayed?) all over it's pitting, dings, and rust encrustation - but I like the type anyway, and the fact that it is fitted with a safety slider. Worthy of improvement.

The renowned Henry Nock 1741-1804, London, Gunmaker to the King, himself could not have made this pistol - as he was departed and buried some 16 years before the caplock percussion system arrived. - However his business had continued on under that name, being run by his foreman/son-in-law James Wilkinson until around 1820 before a name change to James Wilkinson & Son .. that was to later become Wilkinson Sword. Henry Nock made THE NOCK GUN .. a seven barreled Naval Volley Gun.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2029

A nephew of Henry, - Samuel Nock was apprenticed to him and independently became a top quality 'Master of The Gunmakers Company' in his own right.

Whatever, - I seriously doubt this plain(ish "carry gun" was made by the firm - as it has Birmingham Proof Marks  - but quiet likely it was bought-in from 'the trade' & retailed from their shop. Henry had learnt his trade in Birmingham before establishing his business in London.

'LIPSTICK ON A PIG'? ..

Expert collectors warn that - much like "DERRINGER" in America, - the names of respected European Gun Makers were sometimes added by entrepreneurs to guns from other factories to increase the price, and that 'H. NOCK' script carries great kudos. Further 'Expert' comment suggests that the small pocket pistols were very unlikely to be faked as many were low cost items resulting in small return for adding 'a name'. 

So my issue is "what to do?" - as there are rusty raised encrustation lumps under the applied "bluing". - I think that it all has got to come off. Take the barrel for instance .. that has a very good .44" bore - it had filing marks, rust and gouges on the outside of the barrel UNDER the blacking. - Now, me being an ignorant old bugger, - I've no idea whether this, when new, was supplied 'rust blued' or bright metal .. but for sure, after knocking about for two hundred years it wouldn't have much finish remaining eh. 

Showing It's Worst Side: Cleaning-off the "Blacking" 

- ALL that loose rust on the 'wet'n'dry' came from the barrel under the black coating:

And the rust pitting is much worse on the right side than on the left side .. maybe Nocky was made to lie that way by his Doxy, on the damp patch ..

Two screw threads are stripped and the hammer spring is weak & faulty so I'll be occupied for a few days.

Marty K.