Pair of pistols owned by the Earls of Stair

This pair of iron and silver pistols was owned by the Earls of Stair. The pistols were made around 1660 by either Alexander Logan or Adam Lawson, gunmakers in the Canongate in Edinburgh.

The pistols have scroll butts and a snaphance lock mechansim. This type of lock, favoured by Scottish gunsmiths, used a flint to spark the gunpowder.

The massacre of Glencoe in 1692 was the most infamous example of state sanctioned violence in 17th-century Scotland. It was the Lord Advocate, Dalrymple of Stair, who gave the order for the destruction of the MacDonalds of Glencoe.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-000-823-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.LH 434
• Date: Around 1660
  c. 1660
  c. 1660
  
• Material: Pistol
  Pistol
  
• Dimensions: 660 mm L
  660 mm L
  
• What: Pistol
  Pistol
  
• Subject: Firearms (NMAS Classification)
  Firearms (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Adam Lawson (?) (Gunsmith)
  Adam Lawson (?) (Gunsmith)
  Alexander Logan (?), Canongate (Gunsmith)
  Alexander Logan (?), Canongate (Gunsmith)
  Earl of Stair (Owner)
  Earl of Stair (Owner)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Canongate
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Canongate
  
• Event:
• Description: One of a pair of scroll butt pistols of great length with snaphaunce locks, the work of either Alexander Logan or Adam Lawson, gunmakers in Canongate, c. 1660, owned by the Earls of Stair
  One of a pair of scroll butt pistols of great length with snaphaunce locks, the work of either Alexander Logan or Adam Lawson, gunmakers in Canongate, c. 1660, owned by the Earls of Stair
  
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