Need help to identify this flintlock pistol

Buff · Jan 24, 2020

There aren't any marking on pistol. The lock plate is stamped Spain on the inside. It is 45 caliber, there aren't any sights on the barrel. The lock functions properly. This belongs to a friend. We'd like to identify it if possible and would appreciate opinions on what it is worth.

I didn't take a picture of the other side of the pistol, however it is in the same condition as shown above. The blueing is in very good condition, the bore is very good in appearance.

Thanks!

TFoley · Jan 25, 2020

It might just be a decorator - it looks about a month old. IF you can take it apart, see if it has ANY proof marks on it. Spain is a member of the CIP and ALL live-firing firearms made in Spain are required by law to be subjected to proof and stamped accordingly.

All I'll say is that to me it's a decorative piece. Even a quick glance at the real thing would show you the immense difference between such a gun and the real deal. Y'see, guns of this age were not blued as we understand it, Jim, but browned. They didn't have fine-slot machine-made screws either.

desi23 · Jan 25, 2020

Buff said:
There aren't any marking on pistol. The lock plate is stamped Spain on the inside. It is 45 caliber, there aren't any sights on the barrel. The lock functions properly. This belongs to a friend. We'd like to identify it if possible and would appreciate opinions on what it is worth.

I didn't take a picture of the other side of the pistol, however it is in the same condition as shown above. The blueing is in very good condition, the bore is very good in appearance.

Thanks!

I have that exact same gun that I built from a kit way back in the 1970's. It was sold by CVA as a "Tower Pistol" (I believe with the "Tower of London" in mind) and was also available in percussion. I believe some other importers sold versions of it as well. Mine is 45 caliber with a rifled bore ( use a .440 round ball and patch) and I added a small bead front sight to give me a guide for aiming it.

The style lock on yours is typical of the earlier Spanish replica guns from the late 60's to mid 70's. Later versions have a different lock. While it should have been proofed there were reportedly some kit barrels (and rumor has it complete guns) that did get into the US without proof among the early Spanish imports. It's also possible that the marks were polished off during the finishing process if it was a kit build.

As to value I am not sure. Most examples of these older CVA pistols seem to sell in a range from $50 to $150 at local gun shows (price largely depending on overall condition and quality of build if a kit gun). They don't seem as desirable as the Pedersolis (which were much more expensive when new anyway) so even nice ones don't sell for a lot.

TFoley · Jan 25, 2020

Many thanks for the useful corrections. I hope I might be forgiven for not knowing that it was kit gun from the 70's - kit guns have never been a fully-integrated part of the shooting scene here in UK, since they are ALL classed either as display pieces - not drilled through - or real-live firing firearms, in which case they would have had to have gone through the whole gun-proof business and been registered et al. Spain had a habit in the early years of repro gun making of NOT stamping their cheaper market guns with any kinds of proof marks, mainly because over in the USA that was not required - hence the lack of marks and just the word 'Spain' to denote origin. Here, of course, that would have needed to have used up a great part of the profit on documentation.

DOUBLEDEUCE 1 · Jan 25, 2020

CVA Tower pistol.

Buff · Jan 25, 2020

Thanks for the replies and information. By the looks of this I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it. It's nice to have the info concerning the pistol. I will see what the owner wants to do with it. I might put it up for sale here or on GunBroker.

Blackpeel · Tuesday at 5:50 PM

Hello from 2024, this post helped me identify my late grandpa's flintlock. Now I know what sear spring to look for to get it working again.

Need help to identify this flintlock pistol

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