parlor pistols

[enfield]

Dear forum members
In my collection of target and duelling pistols from ca 1800 - 1950 , I have four original vintage parlor pistols , or , as they are called here in Germany and Switzerland , "Salonpistolen" . These were the percursors of the ca 20 years later invented , inmentionable Flobert pistols .

They were used solely for the purpose of shooting at targets or the like in the living room "Salons" of the after 1848 newly emerged middle class in Switzerland, but also to a lesser extent in Austria, Germany and France.
All of them shoot but greased round balls of ca 5mm and cap only , but without a BP charge. Although they are all muzzle-loaders , all of them are all something like "inlines".
Up to a distance of about 10 yrds , they shoot quite accurate and with lots of fun .

If the one or the other of You should be interested , I'd try to get better pictures , also any questions are welcome .

 

[LawrenceA]

Thank you @enfield
These are awesome. Where are the hammers on the lower 3?
How does the actions work on the lower 3?
They are in excellent condition.
Barrel length about 4"?

 

[enfield]

The entire system is quite simple : the "sliding hammer" is pulled back with help of its "cross bolt" , until the rear hinged hook can engage up in front of the hammer . When entering in front of it , the rear end of the hook lowers and engages a tiny notch , which is filed into the spring trigger . The front hook , being out of center of the sliding hammer , will be pressed downwards by the heavy coil spring , which serves as main spring . But as long , as the rear end of the tilting hook is engaged in the sear notch of the trigger , it can't move . But the lightest touch to the trigger would let the pistol go piff . The whole thing is somewhat like a set trigger , and such it handles , too , with a minimum of trigger weight .
You have to be very careful , when placing the cap , since the trigger is already set

This entire pistol , made and signed by famous Jean Siber à Lausanne , has a neat little feature for easening the loading process and also for some added safety :

The rear end of the barrel is sealed with a rotating , drilled through cylinder , taking the nipple on the rear and the RB on its front . For loading , it can be turned 90° anticlockwise , the muzzle end then interfering with a "loading hole" on the barrel top face , into which the RB can be dropped , fitted on the underside is the nipple , waiting for its cap . After cocking , the cylinder is rotated back and the little gun is ready to shoot .

Neat , isn't it ?

 

[rodwha]

I’ve thought the reproductions I’ve seen would be way too cool (wouldn’t get the percussion cap version since those seem harder to find once again), but they definitely pale in comparison to the real deal! Such nice looking pieces!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Unusual and neat collection there. Parlor rifles existed also, maybe still do. It has been said the light charges were the precursor to the .22 rimfire.

 

[Eddie2002]

They make me think of the scene in "The Thin Man" when he shoots Christmas balls off the Christmas tree with a B B gun. Nice collection thanks for sharing.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Our family lore tells of a young relative getting a bb gun for Christmas. One uncle was playing with it and another bent over with a chair covering most of his behind and asking the other to see if he could hit the chair. Of course he missed by a fraction of an inch to catch the overhang. So much for parlor games.

 

[enfield]

Our family lore tells of a young relative getting a bb gun for Christmas. One uncle was playing with it and another bent over with a chair covering most of his behind and asking the other to see if he could hit the chair. Of course he missed by a fraction of an inch to catch the overhang. So much for parlor games.

Upps ! What might tell us this story ? NEVER , NEVER aim at something like humans , Your own cattle , or beloved animals , even with a parlor or toy gun !!! They REALLY hurt , if not worse !!!

Fortunately , he hit a back only , it could have come much worse ! Stupid idea !

 

[Kansas Jake]

As the story was told to me the "miss" was no accident and almost resulted in fisticuffs and lots of laughs by observers as they suspected the shot would go awry.

 

[NorthFork]

@enfield

Those pistols are neat! Thanks for sharing the pics.