A FINE 18 BORE SCOTTISH FLINTLOCK BELT PISTOL FORMED ENTIRELY OF STEEL, BY THOMAS CADDELL, DOUNE, DATED 170- with tapering multi-stage barrel faceted and swelling at the muzzle, fitted with silver bead fore-sight (rubbed flush), formed with a section of hog's back form behind the muzzle and at the breech, inlaid in engraved silver over its surface with panels of thistle foliage, a heart filled with an expanded flowerhead, and foliate rondels, the median with a panel inscribed 'Taken at the Battle of Colloden [sic]', slightly rounded lock signed 'Tho. Caddell' and dated along the lower edge (rubbed, partly obscured, one screw missing), engraved with scrolling thistle foliage, fitted with rounded cock and moulded steel (both early associations, steel with a small chip), and horizontal sear, three-quarter steel stock inlaid with engraved silver panels en suite with the barrel and further engraved panels, inscribed 'Rich-Vyse-C--nt / R.D.T' (rubbed) beneath the lock between two further engraved silver panels, tapering butt with tightly scrolling 'ramshorn' terminal, inlaid with further engraved silver panels including a heart on each side and on the spine (the silver with small losses, engraving rubbed, areas of light pitting), pierced and engraved silver button trigger, associated iron pricker with bulbous terminal, and long slender belt hook with terminal of shaped outline (rubbed, ramrod missing), 28.4 cm barrel Richard Vyse (1746-1825) was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire in 1746. His long and successful career in the army began as a cornet in the 5th Dragoons on 13 February 1762. He became a lieutenant in the same cavalry regiment on 15 August 1762 and was appointed adjutant on 18 March 1767, finally purchasing his commission as captain on 28 November 1771, all this time the regiment being in Ireland. He became a major in the 18th Light Dragoons on 4 November 1777. After four years' service with the light dragoons, he became lieutenant-colonel of the 4th Regiment of Horse, 7 January 1781, still in Ireland. On 28 May 1784 he transferred to the 1st or the King's Own Regiment of Dragoon Guards, as lieutenant-colonel. He then became a colonel in the army 18 November 1791, a major-general on 3 October 1794 after service overseas. At the outbreak of war with France in 1793 he proceeded with his regiment on foreign service and in the following year commanded a brigade of heavy cavalry under H.R.H. the Duke of York, distinguishing himself on several occasions, particularly at the battle of Cateau on the 26th of April, 1794 where after the fall of Major-General Mansel, he commanded two brigades throughout the remainder of the day and materially contributed to the victory gained on that occasion. He was promoted to the rank of major-general on 3 October 1794. On 23 March 1797 he was given the colonelcy of the 29th Light Dragoons, made lieutenant-general on 1 January 1801, colonel of the 3rd Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards on 2 April 1804, Commander of Forces in Scotland, 1805 and achieved the rank of general on 1 January 1812. He was member of parliament for Beverly 1805-6, a member of the Highland Society and elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1804. Sold together with an engraving of Lt. Gen Richard Vyse, circa 1800, drawn and etched by I. Kay, Edinburgh, and correspondence from Martin Kelvin, dated 2007. Almost certainly by Thomas Caddell 3rd, recorded in Doune circa 1700-25. See Kelvin 1996, pp. 163-164. Another pistol by Thomas Caddell (probably 3rd), reputedly owned by Colonel John Roy Stuart, commander of a Regiment of Edinburgh men during the '45 rebellion and at Culloden, is discussed in Kelvin, op cit, p. 150. Further related examples are recorded Bedford 1971, p. 53, no. 42, Jackson & Whitelaw 1959, pp. 94-5, pl. VI, no. 22 and Sotheby’s Sussex, 13th July 1999, lot 300. The inscription was added in the 19th century and would no doubt have appealed to Vyse’s antiquarian interests.
