Braddock Pistol
Braddock Pistol
- 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
- Other Terms
- Firearms; Flintlock;.71 In; Muzzle Load; 00; Sa
- 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
- 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
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Comments
"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
Eric Gabbitas
Tue, 2018-04-24 08:26