Unusually Large Caliber (?) Percussion Target / Dueling Pistols c1860

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Dana,

The style of the cocks on these pistols appears to me more in line with the 40's rather than '60's but that's all I can say!

Richard.

They sure do, put they are marked London, and Dougall doesn't seem to have been in London during that period. Should I put a date on them that I know is likely to be wrong?

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Dougall was famous for his Lockfast action, and is a very well known maker.

Richard.

True. This information was in my first post

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

The barrels of your pistols are a stub iron twist, Nothing 'faux' about them.

Richard.

They just don't look right to me. I think they may be 'faux', but I don't know.

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

I'm surprised you have had a hard time finding pistols of this calibre. They were never as common as say 16 or 14 bore, but do show up quite often.
I'd suggest looking at auction sales, or sale archives at places like Holts.

For a back-up in the hunting field or howdah, pistols of 12 to 10 bore are the norm rather than the exception.
My own pistols from this period are smaller bore than these, (16 bore, 20-bore or .62 calibre, and about 22 bore.) Apart from pocket pistols I think bores of half an inch are the exception rather than the rule.

"The Great Guns" by Harold L Peterson, has a chapter on howdah pistols.

You will also find that dragoon pistols, though severely plain are also of the same bore as yours, or just a little larger...roughly .76 calibre to take the standard musket ball.

Best Regards,
Richard.

I'll check Peterson's book. I've certainly seen small calibers, and a few large caliber muzzleloading pistols. Just never seen anything this large from this period and with this style, but I am willing to learn. And that is why I asked the question here.

Thanks again.