Info on gunsmith flint dbl bbl pistol

[KABAR2]

I posted this in pistols some time back but should have posted it in Research....I picked up a "Project" It is a double barrel single back action lock twist barrel pistol looks to be Germanic or Dutch but has British proofs.... the name on one barrel is "J" or "T" (stylized) MICHAEL BAUER the pistol I would say dates from the 1750-60's with brass mounts, birdshead grip brass triggerguard acts as the lock for the swivel barrel assembly....about 50 caliber
.
deficets:
missing forward lock plates with pans, frizzen springs & frizzens forearm wood damaged missing front sights....missing cock, and ramrod, this will be an interesting restoration project

As you can see this one fell into the hands of a barbarian.... the wood damage was caused by banging on the barrels I believe to try and move the barrels around... they didn't understand the locking mech. and banged on things trying to move it..... in doing so they did damage to wood and metal they also damaged the lockup as it now will not release.... I will have to take everything apart to do that..... no big deal as it will be completely disassembled before I'm done.....

 

[dyemaker]

The The initial may be an I as in Ios (Johann) or "John". In my wanderings I've seen a percussion jaeger by Bauer in Caub. The initials were not the same tho. He may be related, I have no clue. :idunno:

 

[TFoley]

The The initial may be an I as in Ios (Johann) or "John". In my wanderings I've seen a percussion jaeger by Bauer in Caub. The initials were not the same tho. He may be related, I have no clue. :idunno:

I agree in part. European makers often latinised their names, in particular those shared with the apostles. I also think that the full name might be Ioannes Michael - and that the Bauer, shows him to be the maker, or BAUER, of this piece, rather than that being part of his name.

Just my take.

tac

 

[KABAR2]

So "Bauer" is the same as "Fecit" thanks I learned something new... :thumbsup:

 

[TFoley]

So "Bauer" is the same as "Fecit" thanks I learned something new... :thumbsup:

Could be. [shrug] Just noting that some names can get confused with other things. A German-speaking gun maker is a 'Buchsenmacher' and a master gunmaker is a 'Buchsenmachermeister'.

A 'Bauer' is also a 'farmer', BTW, so until somebody does a bit more research in the Neue Stockel or similar, we are stuck with either 'Ioannes Michael Bauer' or 'Ioannes Michael - Bauer'.

Whatever and whoever, it is a very rare piece to find anywhere and deserves all the loving care and attention that I'm sure will be lavished on it. The end result will be nothing less than a stunner, of that I'm certain.

All fascinatin' stuff, eh? :hmm:

Best

tac

 

[lonecamp]

I'm very intreaged with your double pistol, somuch so that I'm looking into making one. Could you please scale a photo, use small rule or a quarter for scale and about the calibre guss.
If you PT me I could give you an email address.
PS great photos!

 

[Dphar]

I'm very intreaged with your double pistol, somuch so that I'm looking into making one. Could you please scale a photo, use small rule or a quarter for scale and about the calibre guss.
If you PT me I could give you an email address.
PS great photos!

Breech dimension of the barrels and the front locks used will set the size for the breech mechanism. The other measurements will be proportional to this.

Dan

 

[cynthialee]

I think you might have something there...
If you look closely at the barrel I. Micheal Bauer the word Bauer is just a hair further away from Micheal than Micheal is from the period after the I.

 

[Dphar]

So "Bauer" is the same as "Fecit" thanks I learned something new... :thumbsup:

Could be. [shrug] Just noting that some names can get confused with other things. A German-speaking gun maker is a 'Buchsenmacher' and a master gunmaker is a 'Buchsenmachermeister'.

A 'Bauer' is also a 'farmer', BTW, so until somebody does a bit more research in the Neue Stockel or similar, we are stuck with either 'Ioannes Michael Bauer' or 'Ioannes Michael - Bauer'.

Whatever and whoever, it is a very rare piece to find anywhere and deserves all the loving care and attention that I'm sure will be lavished on it. The end result will be nothing less than a stunner, of that I'm certain.

All fascinatin' stuff, eh? :hmm:

Best

tac

Farmers/farmers sons were not allowed to apply to apprentice to the Gunsmithng Guild in Germany and I suspect elsewhere in Europe as well.
So no matter what his name neither he or his father were farmers.

Dan

 

[lonecamp]

That would work fine if you already had barrels and such, but to recreate that gun in original size you need some clue as to its dimentions.

 

[Dphar]

That would work fine if you already had barrels and such, but to recreate that gun in original size you need some clue as to its dimentions.

The barrel dimensions ARE the "clue" coupled with the clearance between them at the breeches. Sorry if I did not make that clear enough. You NEED the barrels FIRST. Barrels are the only major parts you can buy and THEY determine almost everything else.
So if the owner will send you the BREECH dimensions of the barrels, the dimension of the octagon at the oct/rnd transistion, the dimension at the breech of the round section and the dimension of the muzzle you can order barrels then make the breech plugs, once you decide how to attach the barrels to the action, then decide what front lock parts you need, then start on the action. Once the action is made you can scale everything else, using the photos already posted so it looks right.
Taking photos with a tape measure over or under it is largely pointless other than learning the length of the lockplate perhaps.

Dan

 

[KABAR2]

Sorry I haven't been on this thread for a while,I see the discussion picked up again.....
I will try to get some measurments for you in the next few days along with a couple of photo's I want to get the stock off of this but I have discovored that the rear tang wood screw only wants to turn.... I may have to do a little surgery on the wood in the lock mortise so I can get to the bottom of the screw & coax the screw out.... I wish who ever had it last left it alone!

Allen