This pistol is a fairly early version of the iconic British Long Sea Service pistols produced in the mid-18th century with a non-bridled lock. The later versions we see more often feature bridled pans, reinforced necks on the cocks, and simpler lock engraving. The lock has the engraved Georgian cipher at the center, a "crown/broad arrow" marked below the rounded priming pan, "TOWER" inscribed on the tail, and "BW" and a "crown/I" marking on the inside. The smoothbore barrel has "WC" on the left at the breech, "Kings" proofs on top, and "6" above the vent on the right. The stock has the distinctive raised "plateau" around the upper tang and is fitted with brass furniture and an iron belt hook. The flat side plate is inscribed "OWNED BY BENEDICT ARNOLD AT THE TIME OF HIS TREASON 1780/2. DR. AMBROSE LAWRENCE BOSTON/3. A.J. WOODBURY DENVER". This inscription dates to around the early 20th century. The pistol's history is recorded in multiple newspaper articles. It is discussed in the article "A Reminder of Benedict Arnold" published in multiple newspapers in late August 1882, originating from the "Boston Transcript." The article states: "Dr. Ambrose Lawrence, of this city, had in his possession a horse pistol well authenticated as one of a pair owned by Benedict Arnold, the traitor, during his service in the British army upon his disgraceful retirement from the Revolutionary cause. After the war, it will be recalled, Arnold retired to St. John, N.B., where he engaged in trade. The house in which he lived stood on the corner of King and Canterbury streets in that city. During his absence in England, where he died, this dwelling was torn down and rebuilt of brick, and has since been burned and again rebuilt. Then it was that this warlike relic of its owner was secured, and having since been in the possession of well-known parties, who indorse its history, recently passed into the hands of the above-named gentleman, who exhibited it in this office. The weapon is of the larger pattern, though comparatively light, the customary flint locks and brass mountings. This style of arm was usually carried in pairs, but the mate to this one has either been lost or been secured by other parties, who doubtless prize it as does Dr. Lawrence his trophy." Dr. Ambrose Lawrence (1816-1893) was a noteworthy dentist in the Boston area throughout much of the 19th century, invented Lawrence's amalgam for filling tooth cavities in 1873, and was also active in local political and civic life, including as the mayor of Lowell in 1855. The pistol appears again in the "The Los Angeles Record's" editorial page in an article about A.J. Woodbury's collection. Here it and smaller French pistols are misidentified as dueling pistols. In the article, Woodbury indicates he had been a friend of Lawrence's and the latter had found the pistol after going to Halifax and later gave it to him. The pistol was later shown again, this time in the hands of Ruth Harvey in "The News" in Los Angeles on August 21, 1920, under the headline "Benedict Arnold's flintlock pistol on auction list here" and noted as previously owned by Dr. Ambrose Lawrence of Boston and A.J. Woodbury of Denver as noted in the inscription on the side plate and was identified as being sold by auctioneer Charles A. Kemp. Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) requires little introduction given his status as preeminent traitor and "turncoat" in American history. He enlisted during the French & Indian War as a teenager, but he served for less than two weeks after his company did an about face and marched their way home after hearing about the fate of Fort William Henry. However, during the early part of the American Revolutionary War, he proved himself a talented leader on the battlefield if a failure in political relations, helped capture Fort Ticonderoga, led an attack on Fort St. Jean in Quebec, suffered a severe injury during the Quebec campaign, was promoted to brigadier general, led the siege of the city, and became military commander in Montreal. Arnold also oversaw the construction of a fleet to fight the British on Lake Champlain but was defeated at the Battle of Valcour Island. In addition to wearing a sword that could be used in combat to direct their troops as well as fight if necessary, many officers carried pairs of pistols in pommel holsters during the Revolutionary War, and Arnold notably pulled a pistol and shot a soldier who demanded his surrender after he was pinned under his horse at the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. By this period, he had already made plenty of enemies within the Continental Army and Congress, and he attempted to resign when he was not promoted to major general but was denied and then was wounded in his leg again while leading the militia at the Battle of Ridgefield. After more pleading with Congress, he received his promotion but then tendered a resignation letter again shortly thereafter and was again turned down by Washington. He was instead sent to fight under General Schuyler and tasked with aiding the besieged Fort Stanwix which he accomplished with a clever trick. At the historic Battles of Saratoga, he was removed from field command by General Gates, disobeyed orders and led an attack during which he was again wounded in the left leg, and was rewarded by Congress with a reinstatement of his senior status, but he retained his grudges even as he was placed in command of Philadelphia which he in turn used as an opportunity to enrich himself and successfully sought the hand of the local Tory belle Peggy Shippen, formerly courted by Major John Andre, the head of British intelligence operations in America. With resentments with the Continental Congress, his fellow generals, and numerous members of the American public, Arnold soon resolved to switch sides. He corresponded with Major Andre for over a year, including passing hidden messages with intelligence. After a court martial for his work to enrich himself in Philadelphia, Washington himself published word of his dissatisfaction with Arnold's scheming not realizing how much worse Arnold had already done. Congress also charged him with mishandling funds during the Quebec campaign and charged him with repaying £1,000. It all was too much for Arnold, so he resigned from his command of Philadelphia in April 1780. Nonetheless, his prior successes netted him command opportunities, and he began a plot to turn West Point over to the British for £20,000 and worked to dispose of his assets in America. By August, Arnold took command at West Point, weakened its defenses, and continued to spy for the British. His plot was exposed when Major Andre was captured with a pass from Arnold as well as plans for the fort. Arnold fled to the HMS Vulture, and Andre was soon hung. After Arnold had officially changed sides, he was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Royal Army and led troops against his former countrymen in Virginia briefly and also a raid on Fort Griswold that ended with Arnold's troops killing many of the surrendering American militiamen, possibly in confusion, and the British troops also suffered high casualties. With the surrender at Yorktown and peace negotiations, Arnold's fight against his former countrymen was over, but he traveled to England to encourage the king to keep fighting. While in England, Arnold also made attempts to obtain various higher commissions, but the end of the war plus hostility toward a provincial "turncoat" or mercenary prevented him from acquire a lucrative position. Instead, he moved to Saint John, New Brunswick, in the mid-1780s and established himself as a merchant, but his various business and legal intrigues led to hostility leading him to relocate his family to London in 1791. There he continued to be a divisive figure, fighting a duel after his honor was insulted in the House of Lords. During the French Revolutionary Wars, he acted as an English privateer and was captured by the French in the West Indies but escaped and fought in the West Indies as the leader of troops on some of the British islands and earned a land grant in Renfrew, Ontario. He died in 1801 and was buried in England. His sons John and Richard both died in Ontario, Canada, as did many of Arnold's grandchildren. None of them were named Benedict Arnold. Long after his death, Arnold's treachery has continued to remain his legacy. Contemporary American's hated him for his betrayal, and the British did not trust a man who turned on his own country. Following his death, biographies and histories portrayed him as a the arch traitor. During the antebellum era and Civil War, Jefferson Davis and other secessionists were compared to Benedict Arnold for betraying the United States. He has continued to be seen as the archetypal traitor. In multiple depictions of Arnold in film and television, he has been portrayed armed with similar pistols, including in the series "Turn: Washington's Spies," where he is notably portrayed armed with a pair of Sea Service pistols during his flight to the HMS Vulture. Provenance: The Dr. Ambrose Lawrence Collection; The A.J. Woodbury Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Good overall with dark patina and a dark coating overall on the iron, aged patina, generally moderate overall wear, minimal wear on the replacement belt hook, cracks and chips in the stock, and mostly distinct markings, including a crisp inscription on the side plate. Mechanically fine.