Holster pistols are also known as horse pistols. These long and heavy weapons were made for use on horseback. They usually came in pairs along with connected holsters designed to be draped over the pommel of a saddle. The style originated in France during the latter half of the 17th century. By the early 18th century holster pistols were in wide use throughout Continental Europe and in England (1).

Patilla style miquelet locks have a large external main spring. The spring exerts an upward force on the hammer`s heel. Two horizontal sears pass through the lock plate in front of the hammer. The lower one is the half cock sear. It locks the hammer`s toe in a safe position for loading and carrying the weapon. The upper one is the full cock sear. It prevents the hammer from falling until the trigger is pulled. The earliest known examples of this style are Spanish and date from the late 16th century (2).

The swamped barrel is octagonal at the breech with silver inlays consisting of intertwined vines over a geometric pattern, fleur-de-lis, (baskets of fruit?), with a cross and small dots of inlaid gold. It has a gold-lined makers mark (punzon) with two rows of letters, KN(I?) over VE(I?). The counter-mark is indecipherable. The barrel tang has a chiseled floral pattern incorporating two dog heads. The waist section has one large ring and a large relief. Both are bordered by narrow rings followed by a chiseled floral design where the barrel transitions to round. The barrel is pinned to a full walnut stock with floral design in raised relief around and a behind it. There are two brass ramrod pipes. The the forward one has chiseled rings with a simple pattern. The rear one has elaborate floral patterns with a masculine mask. The ramrod appears to be the original. The barrel, lock-plate, side-plate, and brass ramrod pipes are all surrounded by raised relief on the stock. There is a elaborate brass escutcheon topped by a crown with female figures on each side and a masculine mask on the bottom. The escutcheon`s center has a applied silver portrait of a woman in profile. The stock has a ball & cheek style butt with long spurs. The butt is cast and chiseled in brass with trophies of arms, scrolls, foliage and masculine masks. The pommel has a applied silver portrait of a soldier in profile. The patilla style miquelet lock has the gold-lined makers mark (punzon) of a Deop maker. The hammer and main spring are engraved with floral patterns and there are masculine masks on the top jaw and front of the frizzen. The hammer`s (copper?) bridle is engraved with floral patterns and a winged cherub. The frizzen spring`s (copper?) bridle is engraved with floral patterns and a masculine face in profile. The side-plate is of cast brass with a geometrically patterned border, foliage, a bird, and female figures straddling cannons in front of trophies of arms. The female figures are on both sides of a applied silver portrait of a woman in profile. There is also a masculine face in profile toward the rear of the plate. The trigger guard is of cast brass with foliage, geometric patterns and trophies of arms.