| English Horse Pistol a.k.a. Tower Land Pattern Pistol | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Pistol |
| Place of origin | England |
| Service history | |
| In service | British Empire (1722–1860) |
| Used by | British Army, British East India Company, Hudson's Bay Company, Mexican army, Confederate States of America |
| Wars | Seven Years' War, American War of Independence, French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, First Anglo-Maratha War, Second Anglo-Maratha War, Third Anglo-Maratha War, Anglo-Burmese War, Black War, Opium Wars, New Zealand Wars, Anglo-Afghan War, US-Mexican War, Crimean War, Indian Mutiny, American Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1722 |
| Manufacturer | Royal Armouries, Tower of London |
| Produced | 1722–1856 |
| Variants | Tower pistol Model 1738, Model 1764, Model 1795, Model 1835, Model 1840, Sea Service pistol Indian Pattern pistol Model 1787, Model 1796, Model 1802, Model 1813, Model 1832, Model 1856 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | Paper cartridge, musket ball undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling |
| Calibre | .71 in (18 mm) |
| Barrels | Smoothbore |
| Action | Flintlock |
| Rate of fire | User dependent; usually 3 to 4 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | Variable |
| Effective firing range | 50 yd (46 m) |
| Maximum firing range | Up to 75 yards (69 m) |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded, Single-shot |
| Sights | Fore-sights |
A pistoleer is a mounted soldier trained to use a pistol, or more generally anyone armed with such a weapon. It is derived from pistolier, a French word for an expert marksman.[1]