For your consideration is a flintlock, all brass, double barrel pistol. This extremely well made and attractive pistol is marked in script on the right side of the frame, “Goffart”, and on the left side, “Francois.” This name is briefly listed in the book “Small Arms Makers” by Colonel Robert E. Gardner; it is listed in the category of Foreign Gunmakers as “Goffart, active 1812, location unknown” and “T. Goffart, Active 1779-84, location unknown.” A proof mark on the left side of the barrels indicates that this pistol was probably either French or Belgian in origin. The bores are approximately .42 caliber and are 4” long. The overall length of this example is 8 ¼” or “belt size.” The wood grips are finely checkered and have light scroll carving on the back strap. There are also very delicate and thin decorative silver wire inlays in the grip panels on each side of the frame. Furthermore, the checkering is enhanced with numerous, extremely tiny, round headed tacks placed within the checkering pattern to create an almost sparkling effect. The trigger guard, safety bar, triggers, hammers, and frizzens (where the flint strikes to cause sparks) are steel. Interestingly, when placed at full cock there is a steel sliding safety that, when pushed forward, locks the hammers in place. When pulled rearward, the twin triggers can be pulled simultaneously or singly to fire the barrels. The stock is in fine condition with no cracks or chips; the steel parts are smooth and free of rust or pitting and the brass shows a lovely, aged patina. The action functions properly and overall, this is a remarkably well preserved example of a highly functional, yet attractive and deadly handgun, from a very turbulent era in Europe. Many of these pistols were imported to the North American continent where they were popular with urban dwellers, as well as the explorers heading west. Such unaltered, undamaged examples are scarce on the collector market today. This firearm qualifies as an antique and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.