My new Pedersoli flintlock--but what model?

[Chris Nolin]

I bought this .50 Pedersoli flintlock last week from the Blunderbuss gun store in Denver. The owner said this is a Pedersoli Pennsylvania, but now that it's home and under better light, it looks closer to a Kentucky to me. 35-1/2" barrel. I'm not able to positively ID the gun because a.) I don't know enough about this style of long gun to just know by looking, 2.) It appears to be more than a few years old, so the current Pedersoli product website doesn't match up, and D.) Being a used gun, no documentation came with it. Based on the pictures, would you guys help me figure out what it is and approximately when it was made?

Also, you may have noticed the silver-ish finish on all but the lock. Is this German silver? I like the silver color look, but am wondering if that mottled discoloration is deliberate "patina," or if it's corrosion that I can polish out. Also, the lacquer on the lock face looks like it's cracking. Should/can I strip the lacquer and reapply, or would that ruin the lock?

I haven't fired it yet, but I'm looking forward to taking it to the range next weekend. I picked up some 4Fg Goex for priming, and plan to start light, with maybe 50gr of OE 2Fg under a PRB.

 

[Steve Stephens]

The proof date code of AM dates your flintlock to having been made in 1984. Have fun shooting it, I am in the beginning stages of wanting to get a flintlock rifle.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

That's a nice looking gun, good buy! I have never seen laquer over case hardening like that before. My guess for the silvery finish on the other parts is is either a previous attempt at cleaning off surface rust or maybe an intentional aging attempt. Judging by "Navy Arms" being stamped on the side it was made before navy arms went out of business. Someone else here will probably know that date exactly.

 

[bpd303]

Yep it was imported by Navy Arms when they were in Ridgefield NJ 2001-2005, made by Pedersoli for them, late 80s to early 90s.
They marketed them as a Pennsylvania rifle, although I have never seen one with silver fittings most were brass.

I would say you have a good one and I wouldn't try polishing the silver because it may be plated brass. I've never seen lacquer on case colored locks. I would try lacquer thinner to remove it, with the lock out of the stock and just keep the lock plate oiled.

My current issue of The Standard Catalog of Firearms shows it to be worth $400.

 

[Rusty_Nail]

I would think the 36" barrel makes it a KY Rifle, and a Pennsylvania Rifle would have a 41" barrel.

The only unknown is whether Navy Arms used the same model names as Pedersoli themselves.

 

[Silky921]

Looks a lot like my pedersoli Kentucky.

 

[bpd303]

You are right, I didn't see or pay attention to the barrel length. Navy Arms sold both so Kentucky it is. :redface:

 

[Alden]

Kentucky it is, indeed, and a good thing and a good one it looks. Yes, be careful on the cleaning -- do not remove surface metal.

Try FFg.

 

[Rusty_Nail]

I think you will like it a lot. .490 ball, .012 patch and 65gr. of FFFg is what mine liked. And pointed like a dream.

I would suggest you drill and pin the tips on the RR. I can see it is one of the crimped on factory tips, which are no good and will pop off and get stuck!

Or better yet, ditch that rod, which, from the ones I have seen, will not last, and could cause a serious injury to your hand!

If you want to know if it is silver or plated, pull the nosecap or PB, and scratch inside. If plated, brass will show through the scratch.

 

[hanshi]

Yes, I'd say a Pedersoli Kentucky, too. Just a thought but in the past I've sprayed both brass and German silver with oven cleaner for an effect similar to what your photos show. It gives a "mottled" appearance to the alloy which can be removed using Brasso. This may be what you're seeing on the fittings. Oh, and it appears from the pic that your rr tip IS pinned.

 

[stinkyfeet]

Most Pedersoli Kentucky's have single triggers like yours. The Penn rifle has a double trigger.

 

[Chris Nolin]

I guess the consensus is Kentucky. I really like it either way. I'll definitely look into pinning that ramrod, since it only has two crimps holding the tip. Also, on your advice, I took off the small plate under the stock.


I scratched a small area on the back of it with a putty knife, and it was silver underneath, as well. Then I dabbed and rubbed the backside of the plate with Brasso, and it came bright immediately.


You can see my scratch marks above the "26" marking. If it's not brass underneath, what is it? German silver? I'm hoping someone knows some history of this type of metal on this gun. Anyway, I've not decided whether to polish the silver metal on the visible parts of the gun. I might like the look of the tarnish better than all bright and shiny silver. We'll see.

 

[Zonie]

The scratching you did shows no brass or bronze underlaying the silver color so I believe the metal is very likely German Silver.

Real Stirling silver is too soft and too expensive to be used for furniture that is exposed to wear.

I'm sure you know this but German Silver is actually a copper/nickle/zinc mixture. There is no silver in it.

It was known in Germany in the mid to late 1700's but it really didn't become popular until after 1800.

I'm sure others will pounce on me but I've made several late 1700's style rifles and used German Silver furniture on them simply because I like it.

It is less likely to tarnish like brass or bronze and real Sterling silver does so it doesn't mind the sulfur in black powder smoke and fouling.

From the amount of tarnishing your German silver shows, someone went to a lot of work to get it to that appearance.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You found a nice, used Pedersoli. I could tell from the frizzen spring she was older, as the newer models have a cheesey spring (imho) and that one looks good. It's the "delux" version with German silver.

Rusty Nail is right:

Or better yet, ditch that rod, which, from the ones I have seen, will not last, and could cause a serious injury to your hand!

For some reason the Italians give you a not so durable wooden rod... so save it as an original part, and get some blanks from Track of The Wolf, and fashion your own.

LD

 

[Alden]

That really looks like silver tarnish in the pics as far as I can tell. Jeez. Don't laugh but does it SMELL like silver?

I'd kinda keep it the way it is though the lockplate does look a little odd.

 

[RonRC]

It looks like the basic rifle that eventually evolved into the Pedersoli Silver Star Kentucky rifle.
The Silver Star has the same shape patch box, but the metal is silver plated and engraved.
The length of the Silver Star barrel is 35 9/16. The overall length is 50 3/16, so it matches up well with yours. The twist of the Silver Star is 1:48.
I have shopped at the Blunderbuss, as well. The owner is the president of the Ft. Lupton Muzzleloaders organization.
Ron

 

[Zonie]

It might be tarnished silver.

German silver makes an excellent base metal for silver plating. It has the added advantage over brass of still looking somewhat like silver when the plating wears off.

 

[Ken Cormier]

Good score enjoy your new to you gun. :hatsoff:

 

[swathdiver]

In the world of repros like your rifle, the single trigger are generally called "Kentucky Rifles" and the double triggers are called "Pennsylvania Rifles".

Nice find and enjoy!

 

[longcruise]

I would polish it out completely including the lock, polish the wood up too. Make it like new to you and then put your ow wear and tarnish on it. Make it YOUR gun.

Doubt it's actual silver. If it is, Jim Fox will be kicking himself!!!!

Far as I can see you got a good deal.