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Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol


chase The piece is a Dutch bronze basilisk given to Henry VIII in 1545 by Maximilian, Count of Buren and popularly known as 'Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol'.
 
The image on the left shows details of the sculpture on the chase showing the figures of Fame and Scalda.
 
Right: 'The Pocket Pistol' from the breech end showing the arms of Henry VIII and the Count of Buren.
Below: An oblique view of the gun at Dover Castle mounted on the iron carriage made in 1827.

These images are taken from "The Armouries of the Tower of London", an HMSO publication. This article is published here in response to a query which was published on the Shrapnel Page.