Unknown Muzzle Load Pistol

Hello everyone, I just joined and wanted to share a gun that was handed down. I have family history in the Civil and Revolutionary War. The below was passed down and I'm having a hard time identifying this muzzle load. I believe it's a twin to a dueling pistol set. There are no identifying marks except the # 14 and letters BP. This is a very ornate gun with metal inlay in the handle and beautiful ornate swirls on the barrel. There is rumor in my family that this twin gun was shared between my ancestor and a General in the Civil War and the other is out there somewhere. Any help with identification and era would be wonderful.

European pocket pistol, not a dueling pistol. Although many were sold in pairs. That’s a fancier example than the plainer versions! These were made from 1840’s through the 1870’s, as cartridges were expensive when they first were marketed. It may have been used in the civil war as a hide out gun.

That's one of the prettiest pistols of the type I've seen. Thanks for posting. One could put together a nice collection of the genre as it had a long run and a goodly number of variations from an assortment of makers and importers.

Sam squanch said:

European pocket pistol, not a dueling pistol. Although many were sold in pairs. That’s a fancier example than the plainer versions! These were made from 1840’s through the 1870’s, as cartridges were expensive when they first were marketed. It may have been used in the civil war as a hide out gun.

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Thank you very much. I does seem to have been used multiple times and still in great condition. Do most guns like this not have any manufacturer stamps? Do you know what the BP stamp represents or if #14 is a series number?

sheriff john said:

That's one of the prettiest pistols of the type I've seen. Thanks for posting. One could put together a nice collection of the genre as it had a long run and a goodly number of variations from an assortment of makers and importers.

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Thank you. I also have a Derringer and 4 bulits of this same era. It to has some where to it and now where as pretty. I'll post picks to if you wish