Deciding to buy a flintlock pistol..

[JRedmond3]

Okay, there's a man(around 80) at my flea market who is selling an old flintlock pistol. He used to have one that he claimed was used in the Civil War he was selling for 600$. He doesnt have that one anymore but now he has one that looks like it's even rarer and more expensive than the last one. The pistol has what looks like a brass barrel that flairs out at the end(some but not alot). The barrel also has a bunch of detailed etchings and engravings in it. I believe that the handle and some of the wooden parts also have carvings. The bottom of the handle is metal and has a knob with a ring at the end. The hammer and stuff also had some detailing I believe. The price he was asking on the gun was 225$ but I asked him if he'd sell it for 200$ and he said yes. I was going to put a down payment on it but I decided not to. Just wondering if you guys could point me to some similiar looking guns and if it would be worth taking a gamble and spending 200$ on it. Also, Im positive this gun is authentic and not some type of reproduction, you can tell this gun has some age although it is in relatively good condition.

 

[JRedmond3]

If someone could give me their opinion or point me to some similar looking guns that would be much appreciated.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:hmm: Caveat Emptor----#1 if this was such a great find and an real honest antique---do you think the price would be $200 ???? #2 If it were the old valuable piece it would not be in a small show but in an auction house !!!! Personally speaking unless you know what you are looking at, I would run not walk away from this "deal." IMHO :nono:

 

[JRedmond3]

Yea I know what your saying but this gun looks really unique. I belive Ill put a down payment on it and then take a picture of it and post it on here or get it appraised. Looks something along the lines of this
[url] http://www.auctionarms.com/se...tol Flintlock Silver inlay Carved Stock[/url]

 

[JRedmond3]

Also, just wondering if you could tell me the least that an authentic working flintlock pistol goes for.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

That looks like a blunderbus from Asia Minor. They vary widely in price and quality. I'd be cautious here--$200 is a lot of money for a gun you can't use. Unless you are collecting guns from all around the world it would be hard to rationalize buying this one.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I agree with Russ T. Frizzen. This looks like one of those import decoration guns made in India, and sold after WWII to the tourist trade for about $25.00. Do not expect to be able to fire it. Its a wall hanger, only. I would not pay $200 for a wall hanger even at today's devalued dollar value. $75.00 tops.

 

Say thank you, and walk on bye

 

[Many Klatch]

I bought a pistol for $100. That being said. I had to rework the lock. When I got it the 1/2 cock had an easier pull than the full cock. After I reworked the lock I had to add a front sight.

The gun is a .67 caliber smooth bore tower. It shoots well enough out to about 25 feet. After that, load buckshot.

 

[JRedmond3]

Could someone post some pics of some Import decorative guns so I can see if maybe thats what it is.

 

[JRedmond3]

Also, The gun I looked at had one of those muzzleloading sticks with it and looked like it had actually been fired off(couldve just been due to age). I was searching around and I came across this gun which looks the closest to it out of anything ive found(except the one i saw was authentic) the barrel was brass like that ones.
[url] http://www.replicagunsswords.com/weapons_gallery/product.php?productid=1109&cat=162&page=1[/url]


If the gun I saw has a working lock and stuff shouldnt it be worth at least 200 bucks?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

That is a picture of one of the decorator guns. They are unfireable, which is a blessing as they are useless junk. If you have $200 to spend you can buy a safe and reliable pistol that you can be proud to own. Check Dixie Gun Works for some examples.

 

[JRedmond3]

Yea but the gun I saw isnt a replica like that one it's a real gun. Are you sayin any gun that looks like that is a decorative gun?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Any gun that looks like that one is of questionable origin. If, for some reason you just have to have it, then go for it. If you shoot it, make sure you have good medical insurance and that no one is standing close to you. Without a photo of the actual gun, it isn't possible to provide an accurate assessment, but these guns are
generally of very poor quality and often are represented as something that they aren't.

 

[rschissler]

So did you buy it and can we see a picture of it?

 

[HarborMaster]

Perhaps he did buy it .., and has now lost the ability to type?

 

Perhaps he bought it, fired it and now only has two fingers to type with! :shocked2:

 

That set of photos suffers from the Blind Men and the Elephant syndrome: you are so close you can't really tell what it is. Unfortunately, on these forums it is a common ailment.

An antique flintlock pistol in fine mechanical condition would sell for $1200 for a trade pistol to five or ten times that for an English dueler, depending on who made it, when and what quality it was.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Gotta be really careful about "looks like", "sort of like" and "nearly"...they can really hang you up. Unless actual photos of the actual pistol are available it's like asking for advise about buying a blue car!! :haha:
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