Belt Pistol Help

[Smokey Plainsman]

Looking for a period correct (1830s-1850s) single shot belt pistol, percussion. Not a revolver. I have a big horse pistol of .54 caliber with a smooth bore but it is most large and heavy. I need this gun to be shorter and lighter to pack along with my St. Louis gun on the trail. I want to use it as a possible finisher on a wounded deer, boar, or squirrel and also for emergency defense against dangerous animals, two and four legged kind.

I personally am just fine with a smoothbore. I know they can be plenty accurate at self defense distances the pistol would be used at. I would like something from .45-.54 caliber. Not sure which would give best ballistics in a shorter barrel. I'm thinking about 6-7" barrel would be ideal. Need something rugged and simple, no decoration, plain wood, again reasonably historically correct.

I am also not a "kitster" as it were, I'd like to buy it pre-made. Looking at the Pedersoli and Traditions pistols, I'm not seeing much. I will probably need to go the custom route. It won't be a project for right away since I'm having a .36 cal squirrel rifle being made for me as we speak, but in a little while I'd like to have a belt pistol for the trail just as a little extra insurance when out there in the boonies. I have read quite a bit about mountain men and later explorers who carried pistols.

Any recommendations for makers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kansas Jake]

I have a couple of pistols that fall into what you are looking for. One is a short barreled 45 flintlock. The barrel is about 7 inches. I think it is an old CVA or Traditions kit gun someone else put together. I've not shot enough to really know what accuracy it is capable of. The other is a 40 year old CVA 45 percussion kit with a slightly longer barrel at about 10 inches. I spent some time with it at the range a few weeks back in with 27 grains of BP and a ticking patch it did quite well at 10-20 yards. It is a size that would make nice belt pistol and is pretty correct for the period.

For what it is worth I often carry C&B 1858 Remington repro when I am deer hunting. Not HC/PC, but it is accurate and handy.

 

[bubba.50]

the Lyman Plains Pistol is a pretty awesome gun and is available in 50 & 54 caliber. 50 cal in stock at Midsouth for 300 bucks. have to get a kit if ya want the 54.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The lyman plains pistol is good, a later model CVA colonial pistol can be had for about $125.00. Or a CVA mountain pistol for about $175 to 200, would be my preference. Avoid the Traditions trapper, heavy and clunky. If you were of a mind to do some modifications yourself, an used CVA or traditions Kentucky pistol can be modified with a minimum of work into a more traditional belt pistol. Put a barrel tennon on the barrel, install and pin and ditch the brass nose piece, maybe solder a piece of narrow square metal to the under side of the nose for a forward ramrod thimble. A buddy had his reamed smooth to 28 ga and cut the stock back and it is a much nicer piece than originally from the factory. So he shoots a 535 with heavy patch. Also took some weight off the gun so it isn't so front heavy.

 

[rafterob]

Deer Creek still sells their version of the CVA Mountain Pistol. They call it the American pistol. It has a belt hook. Look them up, the price is real reasonable.

 

[rdstrain49]

I'm rather partial to my Pedersoli Kentucky. It is a pure joy to shoot and more accurate than it should be.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hey guys, I looked at the Deer Creek American pistol and all I'm seeing are kits.

Once again, I DO NOT DO KITS. I do not have the desire or skill to do one properly. Thanks!

 

[Zonie]

Have you looked at Dixie Gunworks?
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=968
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3502

 

[mdshorter]

What caliber? I just picked up a CVA mountain pistol that looks better than any CVA I've ever seen. It's a .50 caplock with pewter looking nosecap. If I knew how to post pictures here I'd put up a few. Pretty nice pistol and I don't think it's ever been fired. The box has 1978 on it,the warranty card says 1976 and it says lifetime guarantee. I guess you could fill out the card and send it in,ha-ha. It also has a belt hook. Belt hook isn't attached,I didn't want to unscrew the side plate,didn't want to put the first scratch on it. All the screws are lined up! Far cry from today's CVA.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Looking for something with about a 7" barrel all. Most recommendations are for guns with 9-10" barrels. That's a bit too long for a belt pistol IMHO. My horse pistol is that big and it's not very portable on the belt.

 

[azmntman]

What caliber? I just picked up a CVA mountain pistol that looks better than any CVA I've ever seen. It's a .50 caplock with pewter looking nosecap. If I knew how to post pictures here I'd put up a few. Pretty nice pistol and I don't think it's ever been fired. The box has 1978 on it,the warranty card says 1976 and it says lifetime guarantee. I guess you could fill out the card and send it in,ha-ha. It also has a belt hook. Belt hook isn't attached,I didn't want to unscrew the side plate,didn't want to put the first scratch on it. All the screws are lined up! Far cry from today's CVA.

I had one of these. It was deadly accurate, could hit a quarter EVERY shot at 20 yds, th accuracy was a bit wild at 40+. LOVED the belt hook! Why oh why do we sell off these guns we all remember loving? :hmm:

 

[mdshorter]

http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/m...[user]=146338115&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1

 

[mdshorter]

Well that worked real good

 

[mdshorter]

Let's try this again
http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/...[user]=146338115&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=2

 

[mdshorter]

Once more into the breach
http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/...[user]=146338115&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=3

 

[mdshorter]

http://rs1320.pbsrc.com/albums/u526...0_172608_zpslrkne9ti.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip

:surrender:

 

[mdshorter]

You wouldn't happen to to remember that quarter-killing load? I'm getting a strong desire to take this Jewel out and shoot it. :grin:

 

[rdstrain49]

You'll likely find 20 - 30 grain should work well. Start on the low end. Mine loves a really tight patch and just over 20 gr. of 3f.

 

[hanshi]

This holster works perfectly for my .50 TVM flint pistol. With 30 grains of 3F it will group between 1" & 2" at 25 yards.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

That is a beautiful pistol! Did you make it from a kit?

I really like the looks of the CVA mountain pistol, but all I've been able to find are kits.