Naval Officer's Pistol Signed "cassaignard à Nantes" 18th Century

NAVY OFFICER'S FLINTLOCK PISTOL SIGNED "CASSAIGNARD À NANTES", Last third of the 18th century. Round bronze barrel with side panels at the thunder, three registers and muzzle rim. Barrel length 18.3 cm. Steel breech tail. Bronze plates (to reduce oxidation problems during service at sea) engraved "Cassaignard à Nantes". Steel flintlock hammers with swan necks. Walnut frames with long barrel, all bronze and steel fittings decorated with lines. Engraved cap. Complete and functional mechanism with all original parts. Total length of the pistol 32.5 cm. France. Second half of the 18th century. Good condition, wooden ramrod changed. Cassaignard (or Cassagnard): arquebusier and gunsmith from Nantes, born in 1708 and died in 1786. Renowned as a supplier of weapons to the navy, appointed sworn master arquebusier around 1734-1737.