Info on Tower pistol (original)?

[colmoultrie]

One of the first pieces I acquired - thanks to my parents - was this percussion pistol

It looks like a converted lock, but the barrel looks like original percussion.

It's about .75 cal., rifled, with 4 groove rifling.

There is no sideplate - washers instead, and no buttcap. The grips are checkered, and there is a thumbplate, which unfortunately is blank.

The ramrod is wooden, not metal.

This is an odd piece - it looks to be 1840s or 1850s, but I haven't seen one quite like it.

Can anyone give me any more info? It seems better made than a "trade" piece, but it's not quite military either, despite the Tower lock.

 

[poordevil]

Maybe an officer verison of the Lancer Pistol?

I really like the looks of those big militery guns. Nice! :thumbsup:

P

 

[TFoley]

Maybe an officer verison of the Lancer Pistol?

I really like the looks of those big militery guns. Nice! :thumbsup:

P

Two things say to me that this is not a Lancer pistol -

1. Pistols carried by soldiers on horseback invariably have a captive ramrod so they can't lose it in action.

2. Lancer pistols usually have a brass butt-cap so that it can be used to brain the opposition when the shot has been fired and there is no time to reload.

However, it may at one time have been a Lancer pistol - the stock looks to have been reduced in size. I am concerned though that the lock appears to be identical to that on my P53 Enfield - the escutcheon washers are certainly of the same size and style. Pistols more often have a serpentine-shaped back-plate rather than escutcheon washers like this.

tac

 

[poordevil]

You are most likely correct. I think I remember reading RE: English Pistols of the 1840-1850 period, that in order to save money Pistols were made in Musket bore and used musket furnture. But I believe they were smooth bore, so this one rifled is a different animal.

P

 

[colmoultrie]

When I was much younger, someone did refer to it as a Tower Model 1842, which would fit with your info, but I've never been able to substantiate that.