British Eat India Co. Cavalry Pistol

rickystl · 7th May 2016, 04:09 PM

Hello all. This is a new addition to the family.

When I first saw the seller's photos I thought this was a Model 1840 percussion pistol. But the hammer screw looked wrong. I new it was not the latter Model 1843. So now that I have it, it appears to be a Model 1820 with an Arsenal conversion to percussion. Do you think my analysis is correct ? It's in really nice condition. Caliber comes out to about .68. I tried to photo the barrel markings, but the patina is too dark. The only mark on the inside of the lock appears to be a broad arrow (?) But some cleaning may prove me wrong. Looks to be some Navel rack numbers on the butt cap. Thanks for looking. Picture heavy.
Rick.

rickystl · 7th May 2016, 04:11 PM

SOME MORE PICS.........

rickystl · 7th May 2016, 04:12 PM

LAST ONES...........

kahnjar1 · 8th May 2016, 06:08 AM

Hi Rick,
Another interesting piece... Some observations which may or may not be correct. The lock shows the typical Lion and Crown motif of the East India Company, though a bit rough if I may say so, and to me the "proof marks" do not look right for English proof which one would have thought they should be if this is indeed an English pistol.
The other outstanding anomaly is the Arabic numbers stamped into the wood under the lock plate. The upside down V is the number 8 and the upside down L is the number 3, so 83 is the translation.
I suspect that this could well be an Afghan copy, perhaps using some original parts.
The other thing is that the exterior screw slots, apart from those on the butt plate, look very clean compared with the interior ones. IF the pistol is of the age indicated I would have expected some wear on the exterior slots also.
It will be interesting to see what others think here.
Stu

fernando · 8th May 2016, 11:59 AM

Reasonable reasoning, Stu !

Pukka Bundook · 8th May 2016, 02:52 PM

Good morning Rick,

I think Stu is pretty well right on this. The conversion looks a bit rough (particularly around the bolster) so may have been done in Afghanistan. The bun -nut being replaced with a nut turned to shape , or even a washer and riveted in place also says India/Afghanistan.
The stock and sideplate look right, but think converted "out there". Lock -work looks right to me, though the outside is a bit rough.

There are some very good examples on Brit. Militaria Forums, under "Guns of the EIC" forum, for comparison.
The proofs are right In Essence........but not clear enough to say if they are the real deal.
Best,
Richard.

7th May 2016, 04:09 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	British Eat India Co. Cavalry Pistol Hello all. This is a new addition to the family. When I first saw the seller's photos I thought this was a Model 1840 percussion pistol. But the hammer screw looked wrong. I new it was not the latter Model 1843. So now that I have it, it appears to be a Model 1820 with an Arsenal conversion to percussion. Do you think my analysis is correct ? It's in really nice condition. Caliber comes out to about .68. I tried to photo the barrel markings, but the patina is too dark. The only mark on the inside of the lock appears to be a broad arrow (?) But some cleaning may prove me wrong. Looks to be some Navel rack numbers on the butt cap. Thanks for looking. Picture heavy. Rick. Attached Images

7th May 2016, 04:11 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	SOME MORE PICS......... Attached Images

7th May 2016, 04:12 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	LAST ONES........... Attached Images

8th May 2016, 06:08 AM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,730	Hi Rick, Another interesting piece... Some observations which may or may not be correct. The lock shows the typical Lion and Crown motif of the East India Company, though a bit rough if I may say so, and to me the "proof marks" do not look right for English proof which one would have thought they should be if this is indeed an English pistol. The other outstanding anomaly is the Arabic numbers stamped into the wood under the lock plate. The upside down V is the number 8 and the upside down L is the number 3, so 83 is the translation. I suspect that this could well be an Afghan copy, perhaps using some original parts. The other thing is that the exterior screw slots, apart from those on the butt plate, look very clean compared with the interior ones. IF the pistol is of the age indicated I would have expected some wear on the exterior slots also. It will be interesting to see what others think here. Stu Last edited by kahnjar1; 8th May 2016 at 09:03 PM.

8th May 2016, 11:59 AM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Reasonable reasoning, Stu !

8th May 2016, 02:52 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Good morning Rick, I think Stu is pretty well right on this. The conversion looks a bit rough (particularly around the bolster) so may have been done in Afghanistan. The bun -nut being replaced with a nut turned to shape , or even a washer and riveted in place also says India/Afghanistan. The stock and sideplate look right, but think converted "out there". Lock -work looks right to me, though the outside is a bit rough. There are some very good examples on Brit. Militaria Forums, under "Guns of the EIC" forum, for comparison. The proofs are right In Essence........but not clear enough to say if they are the real deal. Best, Richard.