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Braddock Pistol

Braddock Pistol

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Description
Physical Description
English flintlock pistol,.71 caliber made by an armorer named Gabbitas. It bears the initials "E. B." for Edward Braddock.
Specific History
General Edward Braddock gave this pistol to George Washington. In 1777 Washington mislaid the gun. A letter was sent to Captain Charles Morley on July 2, 1777. It read: “Sir, His Excellency Gen. Washington desires you to look among his effects for a pistol which was mislaid or possibly lost. You will know it by being a large brass barrel and the lock of which is also of brass with the name of Gabbitas, the Spanish armorer, thereon. It has also a heavy brass butt. His Excellency is much exercised over the loss of this pistol, it being given him by Gen. Braddock, and having since been with him through several campaigns, and he therefore values it very highly."
William Gabbitas was actually a British gunsmith, Gabitas being an old Norman French name.
Object Name
pistol
Date made
c. 1752
date made
ca 1750
user
Washington, George
Associated Name
Braddock, Edward
associated person
Braddock, Edward
maker
Gabbitas
associated person
Washington, George
maker
Gabbitas
place made
United Kingdom: England
Associated Place
North America
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 14 1/2 in; 36.83 cm
overall: 6 in x 16 in x 5 in; 15.24 cm x 40.64 cm x 12.7 cm
ID Number
AF.245168.126
accession number
245168
catalog number
245168.126
Credit Line
William G. Renwick
subject
Firearms
related event
Revolution and the New Nation
See more items in
Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military
Military
ThinkFinity
Exhibition
Price of Freedom
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

reply
This may be of no interest to you, but I I am an ancestor of William Gabbitas Gunsmith. Born 1750, died 1782.. He is my Great, great, great, great great grandfather. His son was Moses Toghill Gabbitas b 1779, d 1841. The continues as follows - William Gabbitas b 1804, d 1889 - George Gabbitas b 1833, d 1907 - Edward George Gabbitas b 1861, d 1908 - Clifford Percival Gabbitas b 1896, d 1984 - George Clifford Gabbitas b 1927, d 2010 - Eric Gabbitas b 1954 and finally my son Sean Clifford Gabbitas b 1983. I have only recently come across this remarkable story of the Gabbitas pistol being given to George Washington and my son and I are very interested in this story and wonder if there is any further information that would be a benefit to our family. Regards Eric Gabbitas. London. England.

Eric Gabbitas

Tue, 2018-04-24 08:26

reply
"I had the opportunity to see this pistol in person, when it was on loan to the Senator John Heinz Regional History Center in Pittsburgh in the year 2000. It is truly a work of art."

Edmond Gaudelli

Thu, 2016-11-17 15:20

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