Anybody like sterling silver?

[Mike Brooks]

Here's a pistol I did several years ago, mounted in sterling silver. I believe the castings came from Bill Kennedy. It has a 10" 20 bore Getz barrel , Chambers lock and a english walnut stock. Those pronged buttcaps are a PITA! :cursing:

 

Cool! The PITA buttcaps are exactly why I left them off the only pistol I ever made. :grin: Looks a little like G. Washington's pistol...

 

[TN.Frank]

Very nice. I like silver much better then brass but then I like iron first and formost. For a plain gun iron is the only way to go, if I wanted a "fancy" gun then silver would get the nod.
So how does it shoot?

 

[Mike Brooks]

I don't believe it's ever been shot.

 

[TN.Frank]

That's a shame, a pistol that nice needs to be used to fully appreciate it. If ya' aren't going to use it heck, ship it to me, I'd be pleased as punch to own something that nice. :thumbsup:

 

[Mike Brooks]

That's a shame, a pistol that nice needs to be used to fully appreciate it. If ya' aren't going to use it heck, ship it to me, I'd be pleased as punch to own something that nice. :thumbsup:

I don't own it, It was spoke for two years before it was built. :winking:

 

[torn moc]

Now that is what I call "BEAUTIFUL" !!!!!
build another one and send it to me!!!
I guarantee that I will shoot it !!!

 

[jdhiii]

Very nice, Mike!

It looks so similar to an old one I have. (See pix below)
-d

 

[Mike Brooks]

WOW! :shocked2: That's a great english pistol! :bow: Who's the maker? It looks to be quite early, 1740's or 50's.

 

[davy]

 

[Roy]

"Those pronged buttcaps are a PITA!"

I agree

 

[jdhiii]

Mike
The old one is James Barbar (also spelled Barber) of about 1750-1755, a London maker. This gun and its nearly identical companion both came from the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake and are believed to have been here since mid eigtheenth century. :hmm: Thanks for the lighter pict.

I did a silver mounted pistol without the PITA part, but no way as nice as yours. :bow: Good job!
-d.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'm familiar with Barbar's work, all of it is top notch stuff. :thumbsup: What do you know about the lock on that gun? Is it the original lock? Frizzens were bridled on high grade locks at that time, but I wouldn't have been surprised if this one wasn't bridled. Also, the sear spring is a short one, I feel at this time frame it should have been one of the earlier long style. I've found the short style didn't show up intill the 1770's. Does the lock look "right" to you?
The stepped barrel, the butt shape, and everything else about this gun points to an early period, the lock just feels about 20 years later than the rest of it to me.

 

[jdhiii]

Mike,
I haven't removed the locks on either pistol and there is no sign of them being disturbed, so there are some unknowns. I had this one professionally evaluated about 16 years ago and the opinion concurs with informal evaluations from various pistol people at Chuck Dixon's muzzleoading event held each summer in Pennsylvania. The only curious part is the rod. Personally, I think the brass end doesn't fit a silver and iron mounted pistol. Nobody seems to agree with me on examination, so who knows?
I would love to have a copy to shoot! :winking:

 

[Mike Brooks]

So, this is one of a pair? And if so, both of the locks are the same? I'll have to hit my books and research the short sear spring a little bit. :hmm: I agree with you on the rod, you'd expect to see a steel or silver end piece. Could have been replaced long ago during it's working life....who knows, hard to tell.