Comments on the W & G. Chance of London flintlock pistol.

Dmitry · 12th November 2009, 04:50 PM

Lead was used to repair broken hilts, but to have lead used in the furniture of the new hilts..I've never seen one.

M ELEY · 13th November 2009, 03:15 AM

If possible, I'll try to find the site I spoke of. It was an archaeological dig-site with a well-preserved pommel and knuckle bow made of lead. Colonists being hard up for materials did use it mostly for repairs, but occasionally for function. I hate posting pics (!), not so good at it, but I'll try to show my rather primitive hanger with wood hilt, carved spiral grooves around it with lead strapwork/inlay decoration.

M ELEY · 13th November 2009, 04:48 AM

Not the one I saw, but here's a site with a partialy preserved hilt (it's a quarter of the way down page)

www.horsesoldier.com/catalog/c0024.html

celtan · 13th November 2009, 11:21 AM

Found this:

http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/product.aspx?id=1005

"This fine W&G Chance of London holster-length pistol for the Persian market dates ca. mid-1800s. Liege-proofed barrel bears several maker and inspection marks. Barrel is 27 cm long, stepped from octagonal to round, with a wedding band transition. Caliber is ~16 mm.
The stock is of exotic wood, sound, with no repairs or refinishing, and is profusely-inlaid with silver wire scrolled designs. Furniture is either pewter, or a similar alloy, finely cast in high relief and hand-chased with flowers, amongst them the Persian Rose - Gul, or Gulbahar, and the Crescent. Ramrod is an old replacement.
Lock works very well, and the lock plate is decorated en suite with the barrel. All lock parts are original. "

Dmitry · 13th November 2009, 04:11 PM

Mark, the difficulty you're having with finding examples of American pewter and lead-mounted edged weapons is quite telling. There are very few examples extant, simply because this was not done. Granted, one may find an example or two, especially if you look at the old knives, but these usually date from the 1860s onward.
In fact, I would be skeptical and weary of pewter or lead-mounted swords offered as American Rev.War. period colonial pieces.

M ELEY · 13th November 2009, 10:01 PM

Well, you are spot on with finding many examples. If this is the case, then I'm definitely going to post some pics of the short hanger I acquired not too long ago which I believed to be of the period. Perhaps it is post-Rev War or even Spanish colonial. I do not believe my item is any later than early 19th c, however.
Still, the flintlock in question is a beaut-

Dmitry · 14th November 2009, 06:53 PM

I'm very eager to look at the photos of your pewter-mounted side-arm.

Re:the pistol. To this day I don't remember where I read that pewter-mounted personal arms were in favor with the naval officers. I have since not encountered a single other reference supporting this, and came to think that it false. Brass was used, but even that is not a decisive characteristic in attributing one as a sea service piece.
I definitely agree, it's a great looking gun on its own merit. I wonder what wood the stock is made of.

13th November 2009, 03:15 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,146	If possible, I'll try to find the site I spoke of. It was an archaeological dig-site with a well-preserved pommel and knuckle bow made of lead. Colonists being hard up for materials did use it mostly for repairs, but occasionally for function. I hate posting pics (!), not so good at it, but I'll try to show my rather primitive hanger with wood hilt, carved spiral grooves around it with lead strapwork/inlay decoration. Last edited by M ELEY; 13th November 2009 at 04:46 AM.

12th November 2009, 04:50 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Lead was used to repair broken hilts, but to have lead used in the furniture of the new hilts..I've never seen one.

13th November 2009, 04:48 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,146	Not the one I saw, but here's a site with a partialy preserved hilt (it's a quarter of the way down page) www.horsesoldier.com/catalog/c0024.html

13th November 2009, 11:21 AM	#4
celtan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PR, USA Posts: 679	Found this: http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/product.aspx?id=1005 "This fine W&G Chance of London holster-length pistol for the Persian market dates ca. mid-1800s. Liege-proofed barrel bears several maker and inspection marks. Barrel is 27 cm long, stepped from octagonal to round, with a wedding band transition. Caliber is ~16 mm. The stock is of exotic wood, sound, with no repairs or refinishing, and is profusely-inlaid with silver wire scrolled designs. Furniture is either pewter, or a similar alloy, finely cast in high relief and hand-chased with flowers, amongst them the Persian Rose - Gul, or Gulbahar, and the Crescent. Ramrod is an old replacement. Lock works very well, and the lock plate is decorated en suite with the barrel. All lock parts are original. "

13th November 2009, 04:11 PM	#5
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Mark, the difficulty you're having with finding examples of American pewter and lead-mounted edged weapons is quite telling. There are very few examples extant, simply because this was not done. Granted, one may find an example or two, especially if you look at the old knives, but these usually date from the 1860s onward. In fact, I would be skeptical and weary of pewter or lead-mounted swords offered as American Rev.War. period colonial pieces.

13th November 2009, 10:01 PM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,146	Well, you are spot on with finding many examples. If this is the case, then I'm definitely going to post some pics of the short hanger I acquired not too long ago which I believed to be of the period. Perhaps it is post-Rev War or even Spanish colonial. I do not believe my item is any later than early 19th c, however. Still, the flintlock in question is a beaut-

14th November 2009, 06:53 PM	#7
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	I'm very eager to look at the photos of your pewter-mounted side-arm. Re:the pistol. To this day I don't remember where I read that pewter-mounted personal arms were in favor with the naval officers. I have since not encountered a single other reference supporting this, and came to think that it false. Brass was used, but even that is not a decisive characteristic in attributing one as a sea service piece. I definitely agree, it's a great looking gun on its own merit. I wonder what wood the stock is made of.