SOLD Belgian Muff or Boot Pistol

[sqqy14]

From the research I've done this is either a Belgian or French muff or boot pistol. Zonie (rest his soul) seemed to think it is from Belgium.
It is rifled and measures at 0.63". The scroll engraving and the wood are in excellent shape. The trigger drops down from the frame when the hammer is cocked.
It has a screw off barrel that has a twist pattern to the steel.
There are no markings at all, only a 55. stamped on the barrel as well as the frame. Gun seems to function fine.
I'm sure it has some collector value. I'm asking $300 OBO. $20 shipping to lower 48.

 

[hrt4me]

So you think it is .63 caliber?

Do you load it from the muzzle or its breech?

Have you ever fired it?

What is the thread pitch of the cone?

 

[sqqy14]

I used a caliper to check the barrel opening. I don't know the thread pitch, never fired it.
Myself, if I was going to fire it, I'd use a very light charge and I would load it from the muzzle.
It seems very sound mechanically.

 

[Mark Herman]

Screw barrel pistols could be, but were not typically, loaded from the muzzle. When the barrel is off there is a pocket in front of the action, behind the barrel, that is filled with powder. The bare ball is placed on top of the powder and the barrel screwed back in place. Hence the lack of ram rod.

 

[sqqy14]

There is a cup shaped end with the barrel removed. I think you're correct. I'm not going to shoot it anyway.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Appears to be missing the wrench that fits in the rifling to screw the barrel down over the ball or is it just not in the picture? I believe they were called a Liege Screw Barrel. I have one in 44 cal. I would be interested if you have the wrench.

 

[Mark Herman]

There doesn't appear to be a lug on the barrel to hook a wrench to, unless I overlooked it.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

There doesn't appear to be a lug on the barrel to hook a wrench to, unless I overlooked it.

The wrench goes into the barrel & engages the rifling. Screwing it down over the ball pushes the ball into the rifling at the breech end so it is held securely. No patch is used. The wrench would look like the grooves in the end of the barrel you show in the photo, except reversed.

 

[Mark Herman]

Agree with the loading. I have a couple that the wrench fits over the barrel and engages a lug. Probably others besides these two types also.

 

[sqqy14]

There is no wrench...it just screws on by hand. You have to have a firm grip to unscrew it.

 

[sqqy14]

I see what you're saying about a wrench, it would have to align with rifling in the barrel. I was told this pistol could be 1850's vintage.

 

[sqqy14]

Here are a couple more photos.

 

[Mark Herman]

sqqy,
My offer still stands
Mark

 

[sqqy14]

Item sold pending funds

 

[Mark Herman]

Don't forget to send me an address.
Mark

 

[nit wit]

There is no wrench...it just screws on by hand. You have to have a firm grip to unscrew it.

Bubba uses a small pipe wrench!
Nit Wit

 

[Colonial Boy]

Going by the absence of proof marks, I’d say French; nice pistol.
The charge for these is fill the cavity in the action, then place the ball in the cone and screw on the barrel.

 

[DuncNZ]

The screw on barrel means the ball can be an oversized tight fit , giving extra pressure and velocity .
Most of this type of gun that I have handled appear to have never been fired very much , just loaded and carried .
Gas lighting reduced the need for these to be carried .
The price of these was just a hundred dollars or so as they were ignored by collectors ,now collectors have "discovered" them and the price is rising . Nice twist pattern by the way.

 

[Mark Herman]

Just saying, If gas lighting stopped the need for protection why is violence so much more prevalent with todays lighting ,cameras and other technologies. I think they were just outdated.

 

[DuncNZ]

.People in towns and cities seldom went out at night , when they did they armed themselves . Violence was very prevalent back in the day when the offender was not likely to be recognized , arrested or brought to trial. They were known as Footpads and highway men . Gas lighting made a huge difference to public safety in Victorian days as did organized Police forces in 1829 .
It took television and drugs to make violence an every day entertainment which has translated into the streets .