rb5037 Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 I was at a customers house today and there were two of these guns on the fireplace. I asked about them and she said they were her fathers who had had them for many years and didn't know much more. She said that her father had past away and she wished she knew a bit more about them. Her husband and son also shoot and her son would also be interested. Any help with any sort of info would be really helpfull. (info on gun please ) Thanks in advance Adam Pull back the hammer and the trigger pops out, COOL!!! The hammer is an ingraved fish. This was a ingraving of what looked like a tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Looks to me like a pair of duelling pistols. If they are original, I guess they will be from the 1700s. Does she have the box? If you are in BASC, you could email the photos to Bill Harriman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rb5037 Posted November 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Thanks Hammergun Good idea, i'll sent him an e-mail. Didn't ask but i don't think she has the box. Duelling pistols hay! 1700's, sounds sound like they might be worth a bit?. Thanks again Adam Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Look a bit small to me for duelling pistols, more the size that a lady would have in her purse for self defence, or a travelling gent in his coat pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rb5037 Posted November 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 LOL or up the skirt in the garter, oow eer mrs!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 duelling pistols by the look of it percussion cap at that so maybee not as old as 1700's Do they have a makers name anywhere?are they smooth bore? or any marks , like proof or just odd numbers? I'll ask some buddies in the know and get you some ideas of value Dont think they will be retiring tho They seldom go for more than a few hundred quid WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Try this for starters ,, BARWICK of Norwich, A flint lock boxlock pocket pistol with top safety and folding trigger, London proofed, circa 1795. £395 This is a flint lock so its older WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 and one more before i go to bed This was sold at Weller and Duffy in september A 64 bore Percussion Pocket Pistol Circa 1840 by Tathem and Egg London. Round turn-off barrel with engraved muzzle internally notched for key. Engraved boxlock action, concealed trigger and walnut slab sided grip. Some pitting to action. Grade 3. Brl. 2.25". WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Does anyone know when caps came into regular use? What made me think of duelling pistols is that they are a pair. Seem to remember something about duelling being made illegal during the rein of William IV or was it earlier?, so expect they must predate this if in fact they are duelling pistols. I remember a story about two gents who duelled after it was outlawed. The winner was later executed for murder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 I remember a story about two gents who duelled after it was outlawed. The winner was later executed for murder! Pretty much a "dead" heat then. Sorry HG, couldn't resist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Does anyone know when caps came into regular use? What made me think of duelling pistols is that they are a pair. Seem to remember something about duelling being made illegal during the rein of William IV or was it earlier?, so expect they must predate this if in fact they are duelling pistols. I remember a story about two gents who duelled after it was outlawed. The winner was later executed for murder! i have a percussion cap muzzel loading shotgun it is one of the last made around 1840 give or take a decade (they started being used around the begining of the 1800's) just after the 1840's the breech loading Black Powder hammerguns started I think now the two guns above are pocket pistols not duelling pistols as i thought before , yes they might be a pair but this doesn't mean they are duelling pistols :*) WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rb5037 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Thanks for the tip Hammergun, this was the return letter from Bill Harriman. Dear Mr Wakeford Thanks for the picture of the pistols. They are percussion cap pocket pistols probably made in Birmingham c. 1840 - 1860. The barrels unscrew for reloading and the concealed triggers only appear when the hammers are cocked. They are the sort of thing bought by anyone who wanted a firearm for personal protection eg whilst travelling. The advent of cheap and efficient revolvers from c.1855 onwards made them obsolete. These pistols do not appear to be of particularly good quality and are typical of those produced in their hundreds of thousands in Birmingham , Liege in Belgium and Germany. For all that, they are effective firearms at close range and my experiments show that they will put a lead ball through both sides of a packing case with ease! I hope this is of interest. Best Wishes Bill Harriman Director of Firearms And thankyou to Mick Looks like i gave you something to do on your late night surf speak to ya soon buddy. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Look a bit small to me for duelling pistols, more the size that a lady would have in her purse for self defence, or a travelling gent in his coat pocket. I rest my case then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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