Howa bout a Howdah?? show and tell

[canuckienns]

New guy here but an old guy on several forums. I just picked this pistol up. I believe it to be a German made In Munster and J Kruse on the locks. Belgium proofed heavy Damascus barrels with other markings ( to be deciphered). 62 caliber in minty condition, as it might not have been fired. Unrestored patina.
check out the photos. The pistol has been in the same family for a very long time. The bore is mint.

 

[nhmoose]

Cool looking mabey , How about an assembled over all photo so we can see what it really looks like when it is ready to use.

 

[canuckienns]

I understand. I think I was the first person to remove the barrels in forever. Because of the pristine condition I left it apart for future assessment. The barrels are in the white and shiny white where the stock covered them. The upper barrels have a brown patina. Even the ramrod has a different color where it was against the barrels. I will post other photos. I have to head to the range to test fire another project that I have been working on. Later

 

[nhmoose]

Thanks I can hardly wait to see that beauty. Are you shooting it today?

 

[rickystl]

That looks like one of the best I have seen. Yes, please do post more photos of the gun assembled. Thanks for posting. Congratulations. Great find.

Rick

 

[Dave James]

Well all you need now is an elephant and a tiger about to eat your mahout

 

[canuckienns]

More photos. I am a gunsmith and high grade firearms collector and trader, and I would not hesitate to fire it. but because of the pristine condition I would not. Some other photos. That huge 62 caliber musta been a big kitty stopper.

 

[cowboydave]

That's a great find. Enjoy.

 

[canuckienns]

Interpreting proof marks. The ELG * in the oval is obviously Belgian. The crown German??? Letters small capital A and a larger capital A?? possibly German? Left barrel is stamped 52. Right barrel is stamped 48. see close up pics.

 

[nhmoose]

Sweet! Thanks for showing us!

 

[toot]

the DAMACINE, design is, KILLER, and rifled also!!!

 

[canuckienns]

I might add. Where the wood covered the barrel and ram rod. They are still in the original white. The patina is on the exposed areas. The bright yellow spot on the ram rod brass tip is where the ramrod was in contact with the under side of the barrel and not exposed. The over and under rib is made from two Damascus steel bars.

 

[TFoley]

Interpreting proof marks. The ELG * in the oval is obviously Belgian. The crown German??? Letters small capital A and a larger capital A?? possibly German? Left barrel is stamped 52. Right barrel is stamped 48. see close up pics.

I don't see a crown. Nor do I see any letters.....can you enhance them for us, or better yet, take improved views.

 

[Rudyard]

I waffle often about' Damascus' versus 'Twist' . That pistol is Damascus proper if it dosnt look like that its a variant of twist .Similar just not same same . Reminds me of being in a booth at Friendship when a hairy biker & his entourage walks in & shows my a ratty old double he has come by .I tell him its a typical export farmers gun of no pretention & in its condition most valuable as a décor item . Didn't call it a' Woofer ' but it was .
I think he expected an offer suffice to buy a new Harley & didn't seem grasp my honest appraisal His dream being thus popped he got quite annoyed . He ranted "But it OLD its got a wire barrel!!" I said "Ime old but Ime not worth much" . He carried down the isle still ranting ..Some times its prudent not to say to much .but he did ask me .
Rudyard

 

[canuckienns]

Mr foley go back four posts and you will see them very clearly.

 

[canuckienns]

Your a better man than I am Gunga Din.

 

[Bad Karma]

I waffle often about' Damascus' versus 'Twist' . That pistol is Damascus proper if it dosnt look like that its a variant of twist .Similar just not same same . Reminds me of being in a booth at Friendship when a hairy biker & his entourage walks in & shows my a ratty old double he has come by .I tell him its a typical export farmers gun of no pretention & in its condition most valuable as a décor item . Didn't call it a' Woofer ' but it was .
I think he expected an offer suffice to buy a new Harley & didn't seem grasp my honest appraisal His dream being thus popped he got quite annoyed . He ranted "But it OLD its got a wire barrel!!" I said "Ime old but Ime not worth much" . He carried down the isle still ranting ..Some times its prudent not to say to much .but he did ask me .
Rudyard

”the only one interested in what your grandpa had was your grandmother...”

 

[jimhallam]

One point -- perhaps a bit "nit-picking" .....
just because a pistol is large bore and double-barrelled it does not mean that it is a "Howdah pistol". Strictly-speaking these are persona non grata in this site.
I would suggest that the intended use of these large-bore pistols was for personal defence or battle -- being somewhat more efficient than a pepperbox, albeit with less shots.
Many British cavalry officers selected Lancaster oval bores -- 2- or 4-barrel - in preference to a revolver especially in campaigns where the opponents were "Fuzzy-Wuzzies" (or similar) hopped up on hashish. Unlike a "civilised" enemy these blighters wouldn't be stopped by a revolver chambered for the anaemic .450 Service cartridge. (I do hope that what I have said doesn't offend the "woke" brigade who want to re-write history.)
A true "howdah pistol" is intended for use at close range when an enraged tiger started climbing up the elephant to the basket where the hunter sat, so it was inside the gamut of the rifle. The earliest ones were really truncated / re-stocked shotgun actions -- many were not rifled.

 

[TFoley]

Mr foley go back four posts and you will see them very clearly.

Aaha!!! Gotcha - A and A

But still no crown.....

 

[Rudyard]

”the only one interested in what your grandpa had was your grandmother...”

Since I made no reference to anyones Parentage I am puzzled as to what point you are trying to convey. Do I waffle on? Yes . Do I know what I'me talking about ? Generally yes . I get more compliments than brickbats . If I bore you well I'me sorry I agree I am a frightfull bore . But what can we two do against so many ?..
Rudyard