Customized Kentuckian

[guyver]

Hi guys... I have a completely customized Kentuckian Flintlock pistol. It says Kentuckian on the octagonal barrel, as well as Armisport Italy Black powder only Cal .45. It has a brass front sight blade with steel back sights. The handle has been replaced with a solid brass one, lots of brass trim has been added. It has a brass belt clip, sliding bayonet, a crown inlaid into the bottom and a Cameo on top.

I have not been able to identify who did the customization and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about it. It is such a radical and complete customization, I'm hoping that the work will be recognized.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Brass grip cap is a decorative end cap from a fancy hame. The top of the cocky looks like a lamp shade finial.

 

[guyver]

Um... What's a hame?
And seriously.....

 

[zimmerstutzen]

city boy!

a hame is one half of the two piece wooden& metal clamp that goes over a draft horse's collar. so they can pull a plow, cart, beer wagon etc. Each of those Budweiser Clydesdales wears a collar, and there are two hames that clamp around that collar. chains or traces are then fastened to the hames and back to the tree. It is the horse pushing against the collar and hames that actually pulls the load. You can have a single tree, double tree and up. The Bud horses have much fancier show harnesses than most.

 

[mb3]

I dont know who did the work, but I do like it. Nice pistol.

 

[BE Wild Willy]

I'm in agreement with zimmerstutzen and now know what a hame is (I'm a hillwilly). Also, is that George Washington surrounded by 13 stars?

 

[Blizzard of '93]

interesting pistol - the bayonet could pass for authentic.

 

[guyver]

Interesting, though I doubt someone butchered a solid brass hame to make the handle, but who knows.

Yes, I believe that to be a bust of George Washington, and the studs represent stars, but I don't know for sure.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

they aren't made from solid brass. Just the fancy end caps. I have seen a few sold at auctions with fancy ends like that. Sometimes the wood is almost rotted away. Today, show harnesses that have the fancy ends are usually cast steel that have been polished and chromed. Amish around here still use the plain wood and metal hames.

I best stop before I have to explain a crupper or a snath.

 

[guyver]

LOL, bring it on...

Well, the handle or Hame cap is solid... It weighs close to 3-4 lbs, and helps to balance the weight of the pistol nicely. Plus, I bet it would be worth it's weight in gold as a club after the shot is spent.

This pistol screams movie prop to me... but I've never seen it in one.

 

[rafterob]

What a hoot! That's some real Yanky ingenuity there. The blade looks like an oyster knife to me.You could probably sell that to some guy on Pawn Stars as an original for $2000.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
It strikes me as the muzzleloading version of the fuzzy dice on the mirror and fur lined dash board. It is a "pimped out" muzzleloader.

dave

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Machiavelli Special

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I wanted to comment but find I'm speechless. :haha:

 

[guyver]

Yea, I guess so...

But it has found a place on my wall.

It strikes me as the kind of pistol royalty would own back in the day. The beauty of it, and the sweat of the gunsmith who created it, has not beem lost on me. I guess I'm just sentimental that way.

Anyway... I'd like to find the guy that did it and say "nice work" one day

 

It's missing the night scope, and laser rangefinder.

Bill

 

[guyver]

Wow... just wow..

:yakyak:

I can't believe you guys can't see the beauty of the craftsmanship that happened here...

I suppose a New Audi A8 has too many bells and whistles too... After all, all you need is a metal cage, an engine, some seats and a couple doors. Oh, ya, and a rope to tie yourself in. :rotf:

 

[tg]

it probably started as a kit, the wood looks like the grain was not filled, don't know how practical the blade would be but it was done at times "back then" the "Kentuckian" rilfes I had were circa 1975-80 and were pretty slim with not a lot of extra wood, pretty good compared to most of the "longrifles" of that time, seems like the handle may be a bit thin for a good grip but someone had some imagination and put it to work.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Years ago, I traded for a smoothie flintlock that had a very ornate lock screw escrutcheon. After quite a while, I realized the escrutcheon was originally the fancy brass head of a key, that had been cut with a jewelers saw to a fancy filigree design.

Hey all it takes is some imagination to see where "junk" can fit in.