Scottish belt pistol J D DOUGALL Glasgow

[Jim McDougall]

Belt pistol ?, the clasp on reverse side
c. 1840s?
Any info on these?

[corrado26]

Here some info:

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Udo!
As I know little on these type of pistols, I am wondering if the percussion system indicates 1830s? 40s? This seems almost to recall the much earlier 'Queen Anne' or 'turn off' pistols in size etc.
The grotesque 'lion head', is this typical of these types?

This is great info on the maker and firm.

[corrado26]

Here are two percussion pistols very similar to your piece. Both are made in the 1830/40s as is yours.
One of both has a swivel ramrod and a belt hook what says that this pistol might have been eventually an arm for an officer of the civil navy, all the more so because the caliber of the pistol appears to be quite large, which enabled the use of shot.
Your pistol uses a boxlock as it was in use since the Queen Anne period. The silver lion mask was in use with the Queen Anne pistols and later but as it is made much later, it differs widely from the originals.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Udo!
This is exciting to see the potential for this having potential as an officers pistol of civil navy.
What exactly does 'boxlock' mean? While Ive studied swords most of my life, I have had only cursory dealings with guns, so clearly I am novice at these kinds of details.

What intrigued me about this pistol other than obviously the name (I had an ancestral grandfather who grew up in Glasgow in 1850s) was its similarity in character to the much earlier Queen Anne types. Naturally my affinity for pirates, and Blackbeards multi braces of these came to mind. Fanciful of course, but in the adventures in the study of arms and history, what can one expect?

The caliber does seem large. So this in effect would fire loose shot, or would it be a ball? Seems almost like a pocket blunderbuss!

[corrado26]

The boxlock is a firing mechanism in which the lock mechanism is mounted on the inside of the weapon rather than on the mostly right side. Boxlock closures were common in the 18th and 19th centuries. The breech owes its name to the fact that the lock mechanism is typically installed in a type of box, usually behind the barrel.
Boxlock systems have the advantage of being more compact than side-mount lock mechanisms, making them a popular choice for pocket pistols. Their compact design also makes them well suited for multi-barreled pistols and pepperbox pistols.

The lockwork is also enclosed in the box, which protects the lockwork from dirt and damage.

The disadvantage of a box lock is that it is more complex and expensive to manufacture.

[urbanspaceman]

This is not a box-lock Jim.

[urbanspaceman]

These are box-locks with the mechanism centered into the top of the breech as opposed to the side.
Percussion cap versions became available though not so much as the flint variety.
You will often see side mechanism percussion cap pistols referred to as box locks... I don't know why.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you Udo!
This is exciting to see the potential for this having potential as an officers pistol of civil navy.
What exactly does 'boxlock' mean? While Ive studied swords most of my life, I have had only cursory dealings with guns, so clearly I am novice at these kinds of details.

What intrigued me about this pistol other than obviously the name (I had an ancestral grandfather who grew up in Glasgow in 1850s) was its similarity in character to the much earlier Queen Anne types. Naturally my affinity for pirates, and Blackbeards multi braces of these came to mind. Fanciful of course, but in the adventures in the study of arms and history, what can one expect?

The caliber does seem large. So this in effect would fire loose shot, or would it be a ball? Seems almost like a pocket blunderbuss!

Normally ball but I guess COULD fire shot if necessary, but this would require a wad over the shot to stop it falling out. A ball would not require a wad. I do not see the calibre mentioned above but then my eyesight is failing!!
Stu