Queen Anne pistols are
flintlock pistols with three defining characteristics. They have a turn-off
barrel, typically with a swelled cannon muzzle, and are chamber-loaded. The body of the pistol (the breech) and the lock-plate are forged as a single piece. The
frizzen spring is located to the rear of the frizzen rather than the conventional position, in front of it. To the last of these, this is a functional modification, such that the spring's location does not obstruct removal of the barrel for loading. The lock-plate is integral with the body, and is sometimes described as a
boxlock in consequence. It is nonetheless offset to one side with the mechanism assembled either side of the plate and is otherwise a conventional
sidelock design. This is substantially different from the usual use of the term associated with Anson and Deeley patented shotgun design, where the firing mechanism is mounted
within the frame of the firearm rather than off the sides of a lock-plate. Queen Anne pistols are typically
rifled. To load, the barrel unscrews (with the aid of a spanner) just in advance of the
chamber recess, that is filled with
powder. The
ball is placed in a conical seat (cup) at the end of the chamber before replacing the barrel. The breech end of the barrel is slightly enlarged to accept the ball. Upon firing, the ball fills the grooves of the rifling to create an effective seal. The design was particularly suited to producing a small pistol that could be easily carried and concealed. They may be referred to as an
overcoat pistol, a
toby or a
muff pistol. Queen Anne pistols usually exhibit a high level of decorative finish and workmanship. File:Toby version of a Queen Anne flintlock pistol.jpg|Toby version of a Queen Anne pistol File:Queen Anne pistol by Clemmes, London.jpg|Queen Anne pistol by Clemmes of London File:Decorated Queen Anne pistol.jpg|A Queen Anne pistol by Turvey of London with exceptional silver decoration File:Mortimer_Queen_Anne_Toby.jpg|Likely ultimate development of Queen Anne design by Mortimer & Co. c. 1805. Folding trigger, bolt safety locking the frizzen, roller on frizzen spring, link on main spring, front sight == See also ==