A Very Good Victorian, Tower Of London Issue, Coast Guard Service Maritime Pistol 1839 Pattern

Coast Guard Pistol took the form that resembles the Pattern 1842 Lancer’s Pistol, which is a more commonly encountered British percussion military pistol from the same period. The Pattern 1839 Coast Guard Pistol retained the same flat butt design of the Pattern 1831 but utilized a slightly longer 6” pinned barrel that was round rather than octagonal. The lock was percussion but used older New Land Pattern Lock plates and internal components that even included the bolted sliding safety behind the hammer. Of course, the new pistol used a percussion hammer.

The hammer had a flat neck like the earlier flint cocks, with a rounded percussion nose. The walnut stock was mounted with brass furniture, including the butt cap, trigger guard, ramrod pipe and side nail cup (lock screw escutcheon). The pistols had blued barrels, color casehardened locks and hammers, with the swivel ramrods left bright. Like the Pattern 1831, no belt hook was utilized, and a musket style sling swivel was mounted on the butt. These new Coast Guard Pistols were “set up” by the various contractors, the Tower armoury and the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield.

The English Coastguard (now HM Coastguard) was formally established in 1822 to curb the rampant smuggling of contraband like tea and spirits. Staffed largely by former Royal Navy personnel, the force evolved during the century into a vital national life-saving organization and an official naval reserve. Origins and Anti-Smuggling (1822)
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, high taxation led to a boom in violent and lucrative smuggling operations along the English coast. To combat this, the British government brought together various existing maritime enforcement bodies—including Riding Officers on patrol and the Preventive Water Guard—to form a unified Coast Guard of about 3,000 men. Because these officers were stationed in remote spots, they were constantly rotated to prevent them from becoming too friendly or colluding with local smuggling communities. Strict rules were implemented; they were forbidden to engage in trade, own a pub, or possess private boats, and instead were financially incentivized by receiving "prize money" for capturing smugglers

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