Bacon&Co Underhammer Boot Pistol

[Johannes Collard]

Hello!
I have just aquired a .34 cal Bacon Boot Pistol with the serial number 39.The gun is very well maintained and is good for shooting. It has been shot once or twice by the previous owner. Got a pound of Pyrodex P and some .34 cal lead balls so I thought I might go to the range and give it a try.
Is there anyone here who has experience shooting with it?
How many grains should I start with? 10 or 15 like recommended for other small bootleggers?

All tips and advice is welcome!

Got a few images of it too.

Cheers!

Johannes

 

[rafterob]

I think 10 grains would be plenty.

 

[Johannes Collard]

I think 10 grains would be plenty.

Thanks! Although would you think that an even lower amount is good to start off with?

 

[Rat]

Wow I like it. I wouldn't go less, might have a "patent" chamber, which could stop the ball from seating on the powder.

 

[Zonie]

IMO, 10-15 grains of powder would be just about right for that little .34.
These boot pistols were intended for close up shooting and a 15 grain powder load could be considered as a pretty stiff load back in the day.

 

[azmntman]

How do you load? Down the pipe or does barrel screw off?

 

[Rat]

That's right, if it's a screw barrel, the powder charge will be pre-determined. Yep, back in the day, getting shot with anything was very problematic. The psychological effect of knowing you'd be lucky to find a doctor, perhaps not for days, who might not be able to do much more that what would be considered basic first aid today, and infections that would kill you, or having your leg or arm amputated if that's where the ball went, or a slow, agonizing death with a gut or lung shot, would be enough to "put you down"....yeah, didn't take much powder to get the job done.

 

[Barry Strickland]

Wow! You have a rare and very collectible underhammer there. Thomas K Bacon started his company in 1852 and was in business until 1888. He manufactured underhammer pistols including pepperboxes and rifles in Norwich, CT. It appears to be in very good condition, which is unusual. Treat it with TLC!

 

[Johannes Collard]

How do you load? Down the pipe or does barrel screw off?

This one has been loaded down the barrel. It seems there are two models and with one or both that you can unscrew the barrel.

 

[Britsmoothy]

4f right?

 

[Johannes Collard]

4f right?

Gonna be using Pyrodex P FFFG if thats what you were thinking about.

 

[Johannes Collard]

Wow! You have a rare and very collectible underhammer there. Thomas K Bacon started his company in 1852 and was in business until 1888. He manufactured underhammer pistols including pepperboxes and rifles in Norwich, CT. It appears to be in very good condition, which is unusual. Treat it with TLC!

Thank you! That I will! Yes, there are abput 500 of these small bootpistols and about 200 pepperboxes if I am remember correctly.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Gonna be using Pyrodex P FFFG if thats what you were thinking about.

Old joke

 

[Johannes Collard]

Didn't get that one obviously. xD

 

[Johannes Collard]

IMO, 10-15 grains of powder would be just about right for that little .34.
These boot pistols were intended for close up shooting and a 15 grain powder load could be considered as a pretty stiff load back in the day.

Thanks! I'll go with ten first and then might try 15 as well.