Pistol with Ramrod

Full-stocked in silver and profusely inlaid with carved pieces of coral, these muzzle-loading flint-lock pistols are among the most colourful and exotic of their type ever to have been made. A number of similarly decorated pistols, together with matching long-guns decorated en suite, were presented to George III by the Algerian ambassador on behalf of the bey of Algiers in 1811 and again in 1819. Some of these remain in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.