EUROPEAN PISTOL

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

The proof marks in my opinion are definately NOT Belgian or French. I believe that the Eagle over the letters SP is the German Black Powder Proof mark used from 1951 onwards. The mark to the extreme right looks remarkably like the ULM Proofhouse mark (an antler) used from the same date. If some other Member has the History of Proof Marks by Mr Lee Kennett, they might like to confirm my thinking. So.................what do we think now about age?
Regards Stu

Further to my comments re the proof marks, my suggestion is that this pistol is a modern made item for the blackpowder shooters, and possibly reenactment people. There are many types of old long guns, pistols and revolvers made specifically for this use by MANY makers.

[fernando]

Great contribution, Philip; thanks for sharing the knowledge.
I would support your reasoning on post #8, Stu.
Fernando

[RDGAC]

While in no way wishing to sound like a wet blanket, I have to wonder: is it possible that this is one of the much-dreaded "Khyber Pass Guns" manufactured in North Pakistan/South Afghanistan? From the pics the quality of the finish looks good - what I've read on the subject leads me to expect a fairly dodgy finish from a lot of these pieces, including the inclusions of a fair tonnage of black-brown filling material - but the mixture of dates, proof marks et al makes me think somewhat along those lines. Stylistically, in fact, I'd suggest (and expect to be corrected having done so by the experts hereabouts) that it bears quite a striking resemblance to the British Heavy Dragoon pistol of the mid-18th century (see http://www.firearmscollector.com/ima...0110%20018.jpg for instance). Anyway, just the twopenn'orth of a newbie.

Meredydd Jones

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by RDGAC

While in no way wishing to sound like a wet blanket, I have to wonder: is it possible that this is one of the much-dreaded "Khyber Pass Guns" manufactured in North Pakistan/South Afghanistan? From the pics the quality of the finish looks good - what I've read on the subject leads me to expect a fairly dodgy finish from a lot of these pieces, including the inclusions of a fair tonnage of black-brown filling material - but the mixture of dates, proof marks et al makes me think somewhat along those lines. Stylistically, in fact, I'd suggest (and expect to be corrected having done so by the experts hereabouts) that it bears quite a striking resemblance to the British Heavy Dragoon pistol of the mid-18th century (see http://www.firearmscollector.com/ima...0110%20018.jpg for instance). Anyway, just the twopenn'orth of a newbie.

Meredydd Jones

Unlikely to be Khyer as any of these that I have seen do not have proof marks and most are notmarked at all.