Double Barrel Pistol Restore for shooting

Davey Boy · Nov 5, 2023

I bought this yesterday and started on it today. Everything came apart well except the nipples so they are soaking in iodine. I took pictures of the parts and pieces as I stripped it down. Bore is crusty. I have seen these with double triggers and they have been discussed on the forum. Frame is all brass, steel hammers, trigger guard, springs, trigger assembly. Can fire one, then second or pull trigger quickly and both fire. Brass screws.

user 34300 · Nov 5, 2023

Iodine will just cause more rust and make things worse. Maybe try Kroil, Liquid Wrench, or acetone and ATF??

That is a modern repro? Instead of scrubbing everything bright, consider preserving the "patina".

Boil the steel parts in water. The rust will become flocky and come right off with fine steel wool and soapy water. The "patina" will look nice. I would not clean the brass. I'd jut get the smutz off with dish shop and a cloth, and then oil it. Oil or wax the wood.

Lots of folks try to recreate the "patina" you already have. I think it would look good and be a head turner with the "patina" preserved.

IF you don't like it after you and always scrub it bright later.

Tim_IA · Nov 5, 2023

Neat little "derringer". What caliber you recon it is?

Davey Boy · Nov 5, 2023

I have had terrific luck on some things with iodine, haven't seen it rust anything before and if it does work it's overnight.

I will leave the patina, I like your idea

Bores looks like 0.3" so perhaps 36 cal

Mousegunguy · Nov 5, 2023

Looks like a classic arms ‘snake eyes’ derringer ,36 cal.

Davey Boy · Nov 7, 2023

Well those nipples had about a 27 hour soak

The right one unscrewed slick as could be with barely a tug on the nipple wrench

The left one needed more so I locked it in tighter to the vise so I had better control of the wrench and it unscrewed about 3 turns before it came off easy

The nipple holes had a buildup of crud so I used a small straight blade screwdriver and run it in there to clear it

I stuck a small diameter wire in to make a way and pulled it through with pliers

Brought it into the real workshop (kitchen) and used the coffee maker to get some hot water

Letting it soak but it took just two cups of hot water to flush out the hole so I could see it pretty good

I was shocked to see the hole was tapped for the nipples, but the hole was not through the diameter of the tap drill for that size thread

It was a flat bottom hole with a small hole perhaps the same size or larger than the hole in the nipple for the cap to flash through

That sure is a difficult way to set up for threading in a nipple

The nipples that were in it are nothing like I have seen before and I would speculate they were made special for this pistol

I will clean things up and take pictures to post

How interesting

springfield art · Nov 7, 2023

Never heard of the iodine trick, but then I've seen many such tips and such on this site!

Davey Boy · Nov 7, 2023

After the hot water I see the nipple pieces are inserts !

They are flush and looked pressed in

I have used iodine since reading about stuck valves in an overheated engine in 1900 year automobiles

Been using it ever since as first try and it most always works

springfield art · Nov 7, 2023

There's a neat "buccaneer" pistol coming up soon for auction, double .36 smooth-bore percussion, looks to be Spanish, and in 'like new' condition. The hammers have little decorative "ears" on them that resemble fins or something. Not a derringer, has about 8" bbls. Never saw one before, but looks like a 1960's type thing.

Davey Boy · Nov 8, 2023

Here are some pictures

Nipple inserts

Trigger spring with single trigger , two cams

Davey Boy · Nov 9, 2023

Trigger Spring, hope I don't ever have to make this

Davey Boy · Nov 12, 2023

Mousegunguy said:
Looks like a classic arms ‘snake eyes’ derringer ,36 cal.

Thank you for identifying the pistol. I found a parts source that I will list when I can reach them and attempt to order parts!

user 34300 · Nov 12, 2023

For nasty rusty internal parts, submerge them in Evaporust for a day or so.

Sam squanch · Nov 12, 2023

I’m trying the iodine trick!

Davey Boy · Nov 13, 2023

Scota@4570,

I like Evaporust and have been using it on the 50 Cal rifle rebuild and this pistol.

Plus tools and other small parts while I have it out.

I started with a plastic lined trough, nicked the plastic, Evaporust all over everything and the floor.

Then a pipe with sandwich bag taped in place one end with electrical tape, that leaked out too

But when I soaked the iron parts (actually in the liquid before it all ran out), wow that stuff is awesome

I have the brass in ultrasonic cleaner in water running for hours to descale the copper (green) scale from poor cleaning after firing. It is not harming the patina but it is attacking the scale. Spit works good but it's a lot of q tips and rubbing.

Davey Boy · Nov 23, 2023

I found parts for this at Deer Creek Products, very good to order from.

I am thrilled to be able to get parts and not have to make them.

I have spares too :thumb:

Davey Boy · Nov 24, 2023

Scota@4570 had great suggestions and I appreciate other people on Muzzleloading Forum that read and contribute to all the posts on this site.

The pistol bores were still ragged looking and had the feel of a rough casting.

I put the brass in isopropyl alcohol in a glass container in a water bath in an ultrasonic cleaner for hours, The patina is just unharmed but the scale and corrosion is mostly gone.

I don't have gauge pins above 1/4" and knowing this is 36 caliber went looking for a suitable bore cleaner.

I checked the drill chart for sizes and saw a 23/64" drill is 0.3594"

So I pulled that size drill and verified the drill shank was not over 0.0360"

I used alcohol for an interface and started the drill shank into the bore - never the spiral cut section as it can gouge and tear.

Didn't take more than fifteen minutes to get both bores smooth and clean from just working the shank carefully a little at a time until it was bottomed out each side, periodically rinsing and wiping with the alcohol.

I will take pictures as I reassemble and hopefully end up with a cool looking pistol.