Pistol, pocket pistol

Pocket pistols of this type were typically carried by travellers for protection against highwaymen and footpads. The pistol is fitted with a retractable trigger which extends when the gun is cocked. The barrel can be unscrewed for loading and cleaning. Brass barrels had the advantage that they were less prone to rust in damp conditions.

The gunmaker Isaac Riviere was of French Huguenot origin and ran businesses on Oxford Street and Piccadilly. He specialised in pocket pistols of this type. Riviere was also a member of the Honourable Artillery Company and served as a captain in its Jäger Corps. He also ran a rifle range at Wormwood Scrubs near his home in Hammersmith.