William Greener (1806-1869) was a noted gunmaker and inventor and is credited among other things with developing self-expanding bullets in 1836 and was also writer of multiple books on sporting arms, gunnery, and ballistics. He worked for the Mantons until 1829 when he established himself back in Newcastle. He dedicates multiple chapters in his treatise "The Gun" from 1835 to Damascus and similar barrels. Given he adopted the percussion system quickly, he likely made very few sets of flintlock pistols, and in fact by the publication of the above book just six years after opening his shop, he wrote about the superiority of the percussion system and discredited some of the mythical superiorities of the flintlock. He may have only produced flintlocks for customers who specifically requested them or possibly for markets such as the Middle East and India. These pistols would have been suitable for dueling, self-defense, and even military service which would have made them versatile for a gentleman. The right side of the barrels have "NO=50" with the "N" backward as in the Cyrillic for "I." The barrels were likely manufactured outside of England and then used by Greener. They are beautiful textured Damascus and have top ribs on the fore sections, scallops at the breech, and silver front sights. The locks are marked "W. GREENER/NEW CASTLE" and have sliding half-cock safeties, semi-waterproof pans, and frizzen rollers. The furniture is mostly silver other than the German silver nose cap, and scroll engraving is on the locks, trigger guards, and pommel caps. The stocks have checkered wrists. They come in an English fitted hardwood case with a powder flask, screwdrivers, bullet mold, patch cutter, cleaning rod and attachments, and a few lead balls.

Flintlock Pistol