Got any info on this gun? (pics)

[renovato]

Howdy folks,

Back in the '70's I was given a double barrel .44 percussion pistol for my 12th or 13th birthday. It was my first black powder gun actually. Throughout the years I've tried to find more information on it but haven't had any luck. Back in a '70's Shooter's Bible I saw a .36 caliber version listed with no engraving. My .44 model has engraving and plating. From the proofmark it looks to have been made in 1968. The left barrel reads "Corsair-Jager-Made in Italy."

Anyone got an idea what I have here? Thanks.

Here's a few pics, assuming I'm posting them right. Please excuse my poor photography skills.

 

[Metalshaper]

Made by The Armoury.. It was called the Corsair.. the kits were offered at about $70 dollars, according to the first edition Muzzleloaders Handbook cpoywrite 1976.. offered in .36 and .44 as you stated. Not sure about engraving?? unless it was a factory finished gun,, but that's merely speculation..

Always thought they looked cool and wondered how well they shot??

Hope it helps!

Respect Always
Metalshaper

 

[renovato]

The .36 caliber gun I had seen in Shooters Bible was factory finished, so apparently they offered them both ways. I would assume mine came factory finished as the hammers have a gold toned nickel plating over the engraving that has been peeling since the day I got it.

It's a good shooting gun. Not terribly accurate as there's no sights per se, just a bead at the front and an indexed screw at the tang that you can sort of use as a rear sight. One barrel is regulated well and shoots to POA but the other barrel is a little off. The crowns and rifling are well done, so the little gun probably has a lot more potential.

I wish I had known more about black powder back then. I would have replaced the factory nipples. The hole in them is too large and lets a lot of blast come out of the nipples. The blast partially cocks the hammers and has burned the wood behind the tang.

The overall quality of the gun is good. Good attention to detail, good fit and finish. It's a shame they aren't still available. I haven't had any luck even finding reference to the gun on the web. I guess it's just a forgotten little oddity from years back. I'd love to build one from a kit, actually.

 

[Zonie]

You got the date it was made right.
The XXIV indicates it was proofed in 1968.

zonie

 

[Henry]

PN , " pulvero nero " in italian
or " poudre noire " in french , means
black powder , it is proofed .

 

[renovato]

From the Blue Book Online website, it looks like the gun was imported by EMF. I think I'm going to fire them off an email asking about it. I'm mostly curious to know if it was factory engraved. I might buy the Blue Book report on it just to get an idea of value too. Thanks for all your input and keep it coming if you can!

 

[renovato]

For anyone following this thread, I found another tidbit of info on the gun. I bought a 1968 Shooters Bible.

It shows my gun, with engraving, but calls it "The Renegade" while mine is clearly marked Corsair. It shows the company as Intercontinental Flintlock Pistols, yet the only reference I found to the Corsair pistol shows it as being imported by EMF.

I'm assuming it was imported by different companies at different times and mine is probably a transition model. It doesn't look to be particularly valuable, which I already knew. The listed price in 1968 was $39.95, fully engraved.

If I find any other juicy tidbits, I'll post them. ya never know, you might just run into one someday and hafta give it a new home!