Inherited a flintlock pistol

[wtomlinson222]

Inherited a flintlock pistol and know very little about flintlocks. Anyone able to tell me what I have, how old it is? I’m not interested in selling it.

 

[Larry Akers]

Your pistol is a flintlock screw barrel pocket pistol. In use the barrel is unscrewed from the frame by means of a special wrench (usually lost). The wrench is a handled ring with a notch to fit over the raised boss near the breach of the barrel--shown in your second photo. A powder charge is placed into the exposed chamber in the frame, a ball placed on top and the barrel screwed back on. The pistol is placed on half-cock, primed and the frizzen closed and the trigger folded forward flush with the frame. As the pistol is brought to full-cock the trigger will flip down ready to fire the gun. The London proof mark you show (there should be more marks) dates the pistol to about 1813 or after.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
William and Samuel Dawes worked in Birmingham, England 1799-1812. They often marked their guns "London", which was a common marketing ploy at the time. You have a nice little "box lock" turn off pistol. Many were made and they were quite popular for personal defense.

dave

 

[user 48679]

Given that most I've seen were caplocks, I find that it's a rock lock very interesting - BTW, please accept our condolences on your loss.

 

[user 33882]

Those are not standard London Gunmakers Company proofs and are likely period forgeries. The standard London proofs should include a "crown/GP" proof mark of slightly different style and then a "crown/V" view mark. The Birmingham makers didn't have their own formal proofhouse until 1813 and previously would sometimes mark their firearms with their own "private" proof marks or illegally copy the London proofs.

 

[wtomlinson222]

Hi,
William and Samuel Dawes worked in Birmingham, England 1799-1812. They often marked their guns "London", which was a common marketing ploy at the time. You have a nice little "box lock" turn off pistol. Many were made and they were quite popular for personal defense.

dave

Thank you. I’ve been trying to figure out why my grandfather held onto this. Birmingham, England makes a lot of sense since my Great-grandfather emigrated here from Birmingham. Perhaps my grandfather was holding on to it because it was his dad’s gun. I will be digging through my grandfathers tools and such on my next trip home to see if I can find the barrel wrench. Any suggestions on how to determine the caliber?

 

[SlidePicker]

Caliper inside the muzzle

 

[user 48679]

Caliper inside the muzzle

Alternatively, remove the barrel and drive a lubricated lead fishing sinker through the bore and measure it with a micrometer or calipers after it comes out.

 

[wtomlinson222]

Thank you

 

[JohnL]

Welcome to the forum Bill! That is a fine pistol you have there! Keep us posted!

 

[wtomlinson222]

Welcome to the forum Bill! That is a fine pistol you have there! Keep us posted!

Will do