Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Silver plated boot pistol?

andrewsw16
At least that's what it looks like to me. Nicely engraved silver but the barrel is pretty scarred up. The small round silver butt cap hinges open and appears to be for cap storage. The only markings anywhere are on the top, where it is marked, LONDON. (Model name,factory location, designer name?) To me it looks like something a Southern gentleman down in N'Awleens might slide down in his boot before going out for an evening on the town. You know, just in case one of the other players drops that fifth ace. [;)] Anyone have any ideas on the identity or the date of manufacture? I'm guessing 1840-1860.

659-G-14_R.jpg

659-G-14_L.jpg

659-G-14_T.jpg
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    It's a screw barreled percussion pistol from the 1830's-1850's era. From your photos I can't figure out if it's authentic or not. Lot's of Black Powder repos have been made over the last 50 years. From the marks on the barrel it looks like some idiot clamped it in a vise to unscrew the barrel. The marking "London" is a attempt to make it look like one of the high quality English made pistols, which it definitely isn't.

    Even if it's authentic and 170 years old, I don't see it being a big buck collectors item, give the condition it's in.
    0
  • andrewsw16
    It is the property of our little county museum. The curator asked me to help ID the gun. From handling it and examining it up close, it doesn't strike me as a reproduction. As far as the barrel markings, I agree. It looks like someone used a vise or a big wrench to take the barrel off at some time. The curator is very progun and wants to put up a display of guns used by American pioneers, but she doesn't have any experience in identifying most of what is in her collection. I volunteered to try to find sources, such as this one, to give her a hand. It's for a good cause. [:D]
    0
  • Spider7115
    Are there any proof marks anywhere on the barrel near the breech?
    0
  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    It is the property of our little county museum. The curator asked me to help ID the gun. From handling it and examining it up close, it doesn't strike me as a reproduction. As far as the barrel markings, I agree. It looks like someone used a vise or a big wrench to take the barrel off at some time.


    Gone over your photos again, and I agree it's authentic. Without the requisite British Proof Marks most likely made in Belgium. The "London" marking just being spurious, to deceive the buyer as to the place and country of origin.
    0
  • andrewsw16
    Unfortunately, no other marks. I went over the whole gun with a magnifying glass looking for inspector or proof marks. Only the word, "LONDON" on the top rear is visible.
    0
  • andrewsw16
    Well, egg on MY face. I sat down with it again this afternoon. The barrel is covered with fine engraving,(so that increases my estimation of it's quality) but definitely has gouges that appear to be from a wrench or vise from some amateur gunsmith. The good news is that buried in the engraving on the left side of the gun, on the octagon part of the silver, I spotted the Liege proof mark. E/LG/star in oval. So, that give me a bit more. Perhaps the gun actually WAS made in London.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity