Martial horse pistol

[zimmerstutzen]

A friend purchased an odd single shot horse pistol online. It is percussion, rifled and appears to be 55 or 56 caliber at the muzzle. The barrel has a similar snail to the breech on an 1853 pattern enfield, but the snail is slightly different. The lock plate is a Pottsdam marked "863"

He dropped it by the office and I have no ability to post pictures here. I will post pictures tonight.

Anyway, I can find a reference and pictures online of an earlier Pottsdam horse pistol that has similarities, but the furniture is brass. And the earlier model lock is rather complicated. Nor have I ever found a reference to a pistol with parts similar to the 1853 Enfield lock and snail. (My first thoughts are that the lock might be a replacement but it seems to fit the interior cavities of the lock mortise quite well where the mortise is cut out for the screws and bridle.)

Can anyone steer me to a reference on percussion horse pistols of the mid 19th century. The gun needs some repair and cleaning, but other than a piece of wood missing should be an impressive piece once done. It is approximately the same size as the Springfield pistol of that era.

The grip cap is equipped with a lanyard ring.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Ok I kept checking and found what it is. It is an Austro-Hungarian M 1859 Lorenz horse pistol. According to one civil war book a few hundred of them were imported for issue to federal cavalry troops but were swapped for revolvers within a few months.

Cool find will post pictures later.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

This is a picture of the same model, in better shape. I am having trouble getting my pictures to load. The one my friend bought is missing the hammer safety and has a chunk missing from the lock mortise

 

[rodwha]

Cool pistol!

I'm curious how one would have manipulated the hammer safety. It seems a stretch for the trigger finger/hand.

Did you find out what caliber it is? Do you know what it weighs? The barrel length?

It only has a front sight correct?

 

[Wes/Tex]

The pistol is indeed the Austro-Hungarian "Kavalleriepistole M 1859" which was fitted with the safety or hammer-block that allowed it to be carried loaded and capped with the hammer down, probably in pairs in saddle holsters. Best specs I've found say it was caliber: 13.9mm (.55"); total length: 40cm (18.50"); weight: 1,500g (3.30 lb). The guns used the Lorenz system of rifling and "compression bullet" which proved unnecessary when Minie type projectiles proved effective on their own.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

I'm curious how one would have manipulated the hammer safety. It seems a stretch for the trigger finger/hand.

Just looking at the geometry, I'd guess that the hammer rest/safety drops clear when the hammer is pulled back to full cock.

Regards,
Joel