Indian Pistols

[Paul Duffy]

As promised I have attached more photos of the pistol, the inside of the lock, the hammer & mortise area, & the trigger guard.
I should have mentioned that there are no proof or view marks on or under the barrels, or any marks or stamps on the inside of the lock.Although the springs & tumblers seem to be well made.

On one pistol I have been able to remove the striker by removing the screw at the back of the hammer. One of the photos shows all the components. The screw in the other hammer is stuck.The striker can only ignite a percussion cap fixed to the nipple, however the set up is odd, & seems to be based on a pellet lock.

The iron trigger guard is engraved in a similar fashion to the lock plate, & you will see the pineapple finial to the trigger guard, which is attached in the usual way, a screw to the grip & a pin through the stock above the base of the pineapple.

In my first post I mentioned that the decoration seemed to have been "stuck on".This is incorrect, on closer inspection I can see hundreds of brass pins & brass pieces hammered into the stock. The thin brass pieces separate the lines of pins which make up the triangles & circles formed by the pins which are outlined in red.[I also have new lenses in my glasses!!]

I was confused by some repairs to the forend which have involve replacing damaged sections of stock with new wood & painting in a poor manner, some gold lines & decoration.

I am most grateful for your comments, as I am helping carry out some research on the pistols which will be published in the 2017 edition of Arms Cavalcade. The owner purchased the pistols over 30 years ago in Sydney.

[Kubur]

I see 1290/1873 for the date, for the rest I agree with Oliver (for the decoration and the text).
It should be a Persian pistol. I have seen some crude Afghan locks a bit similar to yours. Probably an attempt to imitate Persian models...
Some photos are missing to help you such as the whole butt, the other side of the pistol, the canon muzzle...
Best,
Kubur

[BANDOOK]

Originally Posted by Paul Duffy

As promised I have attached more photos of the pistol, the inside of the lock, the hammer & mortise area, & the trigger guard.
I should have mentioned that there are no proof or view marks on or under the barrels, or any marks or stamps on the inside of the lock.Although the springs & tumblers seem to be well made.

On one pistol I have been able to remove the striker by removing the screw at the back of the hammer. One of the photos shows all the components. The screw in the other hammer is stuck.The striker can only ignite a percussion cap fixed to the nipple, however the set up is odd, & seems to be based on a pellet lock.

The iron trigger guard is engraved in a similar fashion to the lock plate, & you will see the pineapple finial to the trigger guard, which is attached in the usual way, a screw to the grip & a pin through the stock above the base of the pineapple.

In my first post I mentioned that the decoration seemed to have been "stuck on".This is incorrect, on closer inspection I can see hundreds of brass pins & brass pieces hammered into the stock. The thin brass pieces separate the lines of pins which make up the triangles & circles formed by the pins which are outlined in red.[I also have new lenses in my glasses!!]

I was confused by some repairs to the forend which have involve replacing damaged sections of stock with new wood & painting in a poor manner, some gold lines & decoration.

I am most grateful for your comments, as I am helping carry out some research on the pistols which will be published in the 2017 edition of Arms Cavalcade. The owner purchased the pistols over 30 years ago in Sydney.

THANKS FOR POSTING GOOD PICTURES,I LIKE THIS GUN,BUT AS SAID BY EXPERTS IT HAS MORE PERSIAN THAN INDIAN ,SO WE COULD PUT IT IN THE INDO-PERSIAN ERA,CHEERS

[Pukka Bundook]

By what I can see, the lock-work is very competently done and the sort of lock that would not surprise us or appear any way inferior on arms of European/British origin. Nice to see the stirrup on the tumbler.

Can't tell on the lock mortise, but may be a shade down on European inletting.
Very nice pistols!

[rickystl]

Thanks for the additional photos. From the photo the internals of the lock do indeed appear to be European made. Or at least to that standard. Although the engraving does look more Persian in style. That hammer assembly is really unique. Believe it's the first I've ever seen. A very interesting design. But I can't figure out the purpose of the two hammer pieces with the set screw (?)
Must be something I'm not thinking of. Hmmmm.Do any of you think the lock was European or Persian made - before any decoration was applied ?

I note the Persian style mosaic work on the stock. Below, is a photo of the mosaic work from a Persian long gun I own. Note the similarities.

Overall, it seems the pistols are all Persian made. With a general outline of the European half-stock pistols of the period. I seldom see ALL Persian made guns. And you almost never see any come up for sale. I don't know why there seem to be so few examples remaining today compared to others from the rest of the Ottoman Empire. I know this has been discussed on the Forum in the past.

Now, come to think of it.......It seems that I have seen this percussion hammer style many years ago on a pair of cased, European dueling pistols. But my memory is not what it used to be. LOL

Anyway, a very neat pair of pistols. And if ALL Persian made, even more desirable. Thanks for posting.

Rick

[Paul Duffy]

Gents, many thanks for all your comments. I will do some more research on Persian pistols.
And I wouldn't have perserved with unscrewing the Hammer & mortise without your thoughts.