Percussion pistol ID

[OldRust]

I believe I'm seeing a proof mark. Possibly a crown and two letters ? Can you rub some blackboard chalk on it and experiment rubbing it with your finger to bring out detail ?

Thanks
O.R.

 

[Auldjin]

I wondered but I was not brave enough to suggest it.

 

[sqqy14]

I tried cleaning it with a toothbrush and then rubbed some chalk on it. There could be something there.
I looked at it with a magnifying glass and can't make it out.

 

[Zonie]

To me, the barrel looks like possibly is a Greener's Weldless Twist barrel or, more likely, it was machined to look like it is. I think the marks are too precision and evenly spaced for it to be made using the weldless twist process.

I suspect it is an early Belgian (pre 1852) pistol and Belgain gunmakers were notorious for 'faking' the appearance of their barrels, making them look like they were Damascus.

Here are a few pictures of a true Damascus barrel on one of the pistols I own.

 

[Rudyard]

Its not' Damascus 'its' twist' . Not same difference , Similar end result mind .
Rudyard

 

[sqqy14]

Thanks for everyone's input. After spending hours on the internet, I believe that it is Belgian.

 

[toot]

I tried cleaning it with a toothbrush and then rubbed some chalk on it. There could be something there.
I looked at it with a magnifying glass and can't make it out.

it could be just a DING.

 

[rickystl]

Thanks for the extra pics of the muzzle. Gotta love that rifling. The pistol looks like it's seen very little usage. Which would not be unusual concerning it's intended purpose. It's sure a beauty. Thanks for posting.

Zonie: That's a nice looking pistol. Is that a hook-breech ?

Rick

 

[Auldjin]

I stand ready to be corrected, but is it common for boxlock turnoff pistols to be rifled? All mine are smoothbored but I suspect they might be a little earlier and all are English made. They were short range self defence weapons and rifling seems a bit pointless

 

[erhunter]

It looks like there are 2 "H"s under the barrel in front of the 55.

 

[Zonie]

Thanks for the extra pics of the muzzle. Gotta love that rifling...

Zonie: That's a nice looking pistol. Is that a hook-breech ?

Rick

No. To remove the barrel you must unscrew the tang screw and then drive out the barrel wedge.
It is Belgian made with a E over LG in an oval proof mark. The bore measures .520" and has 12 very shallow rifling grooves. The bore is in lightly rusted condition and has one glowing flaw in it. The flaw is, about 1 1/2" down there is a small cavity which seems to be a place where the rust worked it's way in between the lamination's of the Damascus material.
Because of this flaw, I have only shot the pistol once with a patched .495 diameter ball and a 10 grain powder load to prove the gun would work.
The trigger guard, ramrod entry pipe and butt plate are German Silver.

 

[jcs266]

A very nice and interesting pistol