very long barrel percussion pistol

Mel H · 2nd January 2019, 03:33 PM

Having had a long time interest in antique arms and armour I have to say that I've only seen in passing, a couple of these 'turn off' box locks with barrels of such length, having said that, the pistol itself, is very similar to what is probably the most common product of the Belgian gun makers of the early/mid 19th C.
Seeing the photographs I realise that it is not merely a standard pistol body fitted with the extra length barrel, as I had assumed.
With those, the breech where the powder and ball is contained (they were loaded after removing the barrel) is less than an inch long and the powder capacity was limited to quite a small volume with the ball in a spherical seat on top. The first thing that I notice with this one is that the length of the breech is much greater, probably intended for a quantity of shot on top of the powder, rather than a ball.
Is the inside diameter of the breech parallel all of the way to the nipple or stepped down to a smaller powder chamber?

Kmaddock · 3rd January 2019, 09:24 AM

Hi Mel and Corrado26
Thanks for interest and Corrado26 you have found a v close match few differences but overall construction V similar.
Mel
The barrel narrows about an half an inch from the nipple to a v small diameter of maybe 4 mm or so but i am unsure if there is a chamber behind the constriction or not
there otherwise a uniform diameter for the remainder of the barrel

Thinking about the weapon it is v concealable and might have been designed to be used with or without the barrel attachment. ie a short or long ranged weapon
the absence of shoulder stock attachment though is awkward. but resting on a wall or fence would negate this difficultly

regards

Ken

Mel H · 4th January 2019, 02:01 PM

My first thoughts were that it was feasible that it was intended for dual use, that's what prompted my query about the diameter of the breech and its capacity to hold a shot or ball as well as the powder.

2nd January 2019, 03:33 PM	#1
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Having had a long time interest in antique arms and armour I have to say that I've only seen in passing, a couple of these 'turn off' box locks with barrels of such length, having said that, the pistol itself, is very similar to what is probably the most common product of the Belgian gun makers of the early/mid 19th C. Seeing the photographs I realise that it is not merely a standard pistol body fitted with the extra length barrel, as I had assumed. With those, the breech where the powder and ball is contained (they were loaded after removing the barrel) is less than an inch long and the powder capacity was limited to quite a small volume with the ball in a spherical seat on top. The first thing that I notice with this one is that the length of the breech is much greater, probably intended for a quantity of shot on top of the powder, rather than a ball. Is the inside diameter of the breech parallel all of the way to the nipple or stepped down to a smaller powder chamber?

3rd January 2019, 09:24 AM	#2
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Hi Mel and Corrado26 Thanks for interest and Corrado26 you have found a v close match few differences but overall construction V similar. Mel The barrel narrows about an half an inch from the nipple to a v small diameter of maybe 4 mm or so but i am unsure if there is a chamber behind the constriction or not there otherwise a uniform diameter for the remainder of the barrel Thinking about the weapon it is v concealable and might have been designed to be used with or without the barrel attachment. ie a short or long ranged weapon the absence of shoulder stock attachment though is awkward. but resting on a wall or fence would negate this difficultly regards Ken

4th January 2019, 02:01 PM	#3
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	My first thoughts were that it was feasible that it was intended for dual use, that's what prompted my query about the diameter of the breech and its capacity to hold a shot or ball as well as the powder.