Quote Originally Posted by bowser View Post
I have not seen one of those before, a question, was the scrolling on the butt just for decoration or was it for a functional reason, knowing the ammount of work that went into making somthing like that, I cant imagine that it started without some seed of a reason?
It appears that the etching,inlays etc. IMHO, the reason for the "decoration, is for the same reason we see it on the hilts & blades of the Basket hilt Swords or the blades of the dirks. Primarily for decoration.On the pistols I have handled, the 'decorations" do not substantially improve the grip.

Here is a discussion I was involved in on an engraving forum resently.. We discussed this to some extent.( we covered not only the decoration, but the "cultural background.) NOTE - this site hosts some of the finest engravers out there. I AM NOT an engraver. I was asked to participate to assist in providing the examples, historical & cultural backgroung Talk about a "LEARNING EXPERIENSE"

There quite a few GREAT pcs of Scots pistol, including wheel locks,matchlocks & of course flint locks.
http://www.engravingforum.com/showth...t=1391&page=15

PUFFER