Info on English percussion pistol ??

hbhansen · 30th June 2013, 09:24 PM

I won the auction on this pistol today. It came with a Danish M/1848 Liege cavalry pistol which is going into my collection.
Since I know nothing about this pistol I ask for your help, any info will be greatly appreciated.
The auction house called it a "English composite percussion pistol".
Thank you.
HB

Tony PP · 1st July 2013, 06:46 AM

Composite meaning made up from bits of other guns. Looks like and old barrel and lock with a new stock and brass butt cap. The trigger and guard look like they come from a shotgun. Please do not attempt to fire this. The throw of the hammer appears to not clear the nipple if it had a cap on it. The lock plate shows two screw holes but from the other side only one screw head is visable. Check how the barrel is secured to the stock. I have shot many old pistols that have been made up but the build quality of this one I think is a little suspect.

kronckew · 1st July 2013, 08:24 AM

no makers or proof marks?

hbhansen · 1st July 2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

no makers or proof marks?

I do not see any on the pics. I have not yet recieved the guns, but maybe when they arrive, I will find some marks...

fernando · 1st July 2013, 07:33 PM

It looks all very crude, doesn't it ?

.
The barrel must have been for flint, converted to percussion; this would explain the shape of the present lock plate.
The stock looks like a raw work, not made by a professional gun maker.

kronckew · 2nd July 2013, 06:33 AM

i was also suspicious of it being a recent pakistani/indian unproofed replica. hence my guarded comments. they frequently have misaligned nipples and hammers and rather crude workmanship at the low end tourista level. many do not even have the vent holes drilled thru. the lock, barrel, and strapping are crudely inlayed and gaps filed with some gunk, the pins holding the barrel seem rather thin as well. i suspect the wall thickness of the barrel will turn out to be rather thin. i saw a replica lion butt cap on sale for £18 that looked very much like that one. but better.

the composite description was telling. i was waiting for more comments before posting this. i was reluctant to be the first bearer of bad news.

it was interesting to watch a video of the arms trade in durra, pakistan where young children with copper plumbing tubing cut it to length and hand swaged it into cartridges for ak47's. the ak47's their parents made by hand out of steel scrap. and racks of new martini-henrys, and similarly new 'old' enfield rifled muskets. the better ones even have almost-correct stamps and even reasonably heat treated parts. if you want a new tavor tar-21 assault rifle, you can watch them make it in front of you.

hbhansen · 2nd July 2013, 08:11 PM

Hmm this is not good news.
I was expecting to sell this one to reduce the price on the other one. If this is a copy it is pretty much worthless

I think I must talk to the auktion house tomorrow....
Thanks Guys.
Any more comment would be appreciated.
If you follow this link, it is possible to zoom in on the pics. http://www.bruun-rasmussen.dk/sold-i...en&mode=detail
Best
HB

30th June 2013, 09:24 PM	#1
hbhansen Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Denmark Posts: 89	Info on English percussion pistol ?? I won the auction on this pistol today. It came with a Danish M/1848 Liege cavalry pistol which is going into my collection. Since I know nothing about this pistol I ask for your help, any info will be greatly appreciated. The auction house called it a "English composite percussion pistol". Thank you. HB Attached Images Last edited by hbhansen; 30th June 2013 at 09:36 PM.

1st July 2013, 06:46 AM	#2
Tony PP Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 26	Composite ? Composite meaning made up from bits of other guns. Looks like and old barrel and lock with a new stock and brass butt cap. The trigger and guard look like they come from a shotgun. Please do not attempt to fire this. The throw of the hammer appears to not clear the nipple if it had a cap on it. The lock plate shows two screw holes but from the other side only one screw head is visable. Check how the barrel is secured to the stock. I have shot many old pistols that have been made up but the build quality of this one I think is a little suspect.

1st July 2013, 07:33 PM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,650	I could be wrong, but It looks all very crude, doesn't it ? . The barrel must have been for flint, converted to percussion; this would explain the shape of the present lock plate. The stock looks like a raw work, not made by a professional gun maker.

2nd July 2013, 08:11 PM	#7
hbhansen Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Denmark Posts: 89	Hmm this is not good news. I was expecting to sell this one to reduce the price on the other one. If this is a copy it is pretty much worthless I think I must talk to the auktion house tomorrow.... Thanks Guys. Any more comment would be appreciated. If you follow this link, it is possible to zoom in on the pics. http://www.bruun-rasmussen.dk/sold-i...en&mode=detail Best HB Last edited by hbhansen; 2nd July 2013 at 08:24 PM.

1st July 2013, 08:24 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	no makers or proof marks?

2nd July 2013, 06:33 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	i was also suspicious of it being a recent pakistani/indian unproofed replica. hence my guarded comments. they frequently have misaligned nipples and hammers and rather crude workmanship at the low end tourista level. many do not even have the vent holes drilled thru. the lock, barrel, and strapping are crudely inlayed and gaps filed with some gunk, the pins holding the barrel seem rather thin as well. i suspect the wall thickness of the barrel will turn out to be rather thin. i saw a replica lion butt cap on sale for £18 that looked very much like that one. but better. the composite description was telling. i was waiting for more comments before posting this. i was reluctant to be the first bearer of bad news. it was interesting to watch a video of the arms trade in durra, pakistan where young children with copper plumbing tubing cut it to length and hand swaged it into cartridges for ak47's. the ak47's their parents made by hand out of steel scrap. and racks of new martini-henrys, and similarly new 'old' enfield rifled muskets. the better ones even have almost-correct stamps and even reasonably heat treated parts. if you want a new tavor tar-21 assault rifle, you can watch them make it in front of you.