Dutch-made guns were prolific in the North American colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries. By the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Dutch Republic was experiencing its "Golden Age," quickly establishing itself as one of the most dynamic global trading powers. Composed of seven "United Provinces," the Netherlands saw the New World as a potential source for empire and profit, and a way to expand their imperial strength against rivals like Spain and England. Their claim to the region, which they named New Netherland, began with the 1609 voyage of Henry Hudson, an English commander hired by the Dutch East India Company. After exploring the river that now bears his name and securing the region, the Netherlands chartered the Dutch West India Company (GWC) in 1621, granting it a trade monopoly throughout the Americas.
The Dutch activities in North American colonization were centered on establishing a resilient trade network. They founded their primary trade fort and port, New Amsterdam, on Manhattan Island as early as 1614—six years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. Moving up the Hudson River, they built Fort Orange (present-day Albany, N.Y.) in 1624, which became a crucial base for a major fur-trading network with the local Algonquian and Iroquois peoples. At its height, New Netherland extended from the Connecticut River south toward Delaware and Pennsylvania.
The Dutch imported tens of thousands of firearms into North America during the 17th and early 18th century. Some historians suggest the volume of Dutch guns imported into the New World totaled more than that of their closest competitors, England and Spain, combined. This tremendous output was due primarily to the robust arms-making industry the Dutch established in a relatively short period, driven by its ongoing war against Spain. Thanks to the arms builders of Amsterdam, Maastricht, and Rotterdam, the Dutch Republic's arms manufacturing abilities were considered the most advanced in Europe by the mid-17th century. Dutch innovators were early adopters of the flintlock and began producing flintlock arms as early as the 1620s.
Add to this the fact that the Dutch had fewer reservations about arming Native populations than the comparatively conservative French and English, and it is easy to see why Dutch-made guns quickly became so commonplace among the colonies. While GWC officials tried to stop the arms sales—even passing an ordinance levying the death penalty—the prohibition was widely ignored, even by high-ranking officials. The trade was highly profitable, with one gun often exchanged for twenty beaver pelts, making the illicit arms trade the only way Dutch traders could acquire enough furs to make the colony economically worthwhile. Consequently, some of Albany's most prominent families made their wealth from dealing in guns, such as Philip Pieterse Schuyler, who moved to New Netherland as a gunstock maker around 1650 and also traded in furs.
Like any tool, firearms were in the colonies generally saw VERY long service lives compared to those used in Europe. The perilous voyage across the Atlantic, combined with a lack of raw materials and skilled labor to replace them meant that guns brought to the Americas could not easily be replaced simply because they were no longer "the latest style". As a result, it was not uncommon for arms imported into America to be used for generations, with several documented muskets from the 17th Century utilized during the American Revolution. With this in mind, we are pleased to present this late 17th Century Dutch Holster pistol, which could have easily seen service in a host of Colonial conflicts, including both the "French & Indian War" and the American Revolution!
This particular pistol is an excellent example of Dutch arms building. Its overall styling, combined with its "bridle-less" lock puts its date of manufacture about 1690!
At over 18" long, this large holster pistol has all the earmarks of a late 17th Century Dutch guns. It features a beautifully carved European walnut stock with wonderful relief carving around the tang and forestock. The stock is in excellent condition with no cracks or major damage to speak of. A handsome iron "escutcheon" plate also decorates the wrist.
The large lock is in great shape. The cock holds solid on both full and half cock and the frizzen spring retains a nice temper, closing the frizzen with a good "snap". The lock components are all original - this is an original flintlock, not a reconversion! The barrel is roughly 12" long with a bore of about .50.
The furniture is made from iron, which is another feature commonly associated with Dutch guns - while the British and Germans utilized a lot of brass components of their pistols as it was easy to cast and shape, the Dutch and French tended to favor iron components as they were stronger. The trigger guard features some decorative "ribbed" file work, which is another feature that is typically associated with early Dutch arms.
The ram rod is a modern replacement, but its the correct style for the gun and fits well.
This pistol is the oldest piece we've ever had in the shop. It's a beautiful example of an era of gun making that died away with the advent of modern machinery. This is a fine example of European craftsmanship and would make a great addition to anyone's collection
