Real or not?

[Mulebrain]

I could see personal defense home use, but not for hunting at night. Trying to aim that at night, good luck

 

[nkbj]

Genius is what it is no matter the century.

 

[RATROD56]

Rare sniper pistol with antique night vision from the crusades.

 

[2 shots]

looks like a chambers gun builders lock. maybe??????????

 

[Notchy Bob]

I find it interesting. One of the fellows mentioned the lantern pattern is fro the mid to late 19th century. That, in combination with a flintlock suggests (to me) that it might have been a hobby project, possibly from that era. People had hobbies, and a sense of humor, even back then.

It looks as if that curved lever inside the hand guard must be the "trigger," activating a vertical rod, enclosed within the handle, that would trip the sear. That thing could potentially actually work, although accuracy, especially in the dark, by lantern light, would likely be "minute of side of barn." Judging by the bore size, it must be a smoothbore. Maybe it was intended to be loaded with shot, or rock salt, or okra seed, to deter nocturnal watermelon thieves.

Maybe it is some sort of steampunk firearm gizmo. I don't know. Is steampunk still a viable phenomenon? I don't hear much about it these days, although I think SASS may have a steampunk shooting category. We probably aren't supposed to discuss that, though.

Thanks for showing it!

Notchy Bob

 

[appalichian hunter]

Strophel may be on to something, the piece if real could date from the time when grave robbers were active to supply bodies for medical research, I do not think it is steampunk at all but was designed apparently for some kind of use during the night time. Interesting piece, as too the touch hole how can anyone tell from the angle of the picture if it is correctly placed (sun set position) someone has better eyes than I. Actually bob a lot of shot at close distance would be a better option than a single ball. If given the choice in a close quarter incident especially at night I would choose a shot gun every time.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Also if you look at the grip part where the **** is you will see where the **** has rubbed the grip, now that area does not show the patina the rest of the weapon does but does show the piece is operational, and at some time the **** was worked.

 

[Kestrel]

I think it was an earlier prototype......

 

[James C. Burnette]

Tacticool

 

[TFoley]

Wait till I find my combination folding canoe and can-opener pistol........

 

[RATROD56]

I think it was an earlier prototype......View attachment 70180

 

[appalichian hunter]

The weapon has intrigued me, so done some re-search on 1800s cemetery keepers and their weapons, as no such weapon was found as posted, but did find something similar it dates to 1710 and is a swivel mounted affair ( flint lock)that is placed near a recent grave and set with trip wires around the grave. From the pictures it has the same patina and similar configuration as the one posted, only it is made as to be placed and not carried. Grave robbing was a big problem in the U.K. and America during this time frame, due to the need for medical teachings. It would appear this weapon has historical province as a piece that may have been used in for night time security applications.

 

[Zonie]

Lets see here.
We have a lantern that seems to date from around the late 1800's mated to a flintlock pistol that wouldn't have been much more than an old conversation piece by then and I'm supposed to believe it was used for night hunting or for insuring the security at a grave yard?

Those old lanterns were doing good to light up anything at a distance of 10 yards and why would anyone serious about having a defensive handgun use a pistol that had been out of date for 70 years? Also to be noted, the flash in the pan is going to char the hand of the person who fired the thing.

It's just a piece of artwork, and it's doing it's job nicely as a conversation piece. It already has over 30 posts made.

 

[appalichian hunter]

could be, maybe, sort of reckon we will never know, there has to be more info on it somewhere someone posted a pic of it so there should be a history on its use. Will keep looking.

 

[Flinty Scot]

All of the more rational explanations about mismatched components, could this have been created in one of those technological backwaters of the world where archaic weapons and train gear were sold for re-use ( the old British empire for example) long after they were obsolete where they were made? If only made for a tourist trade. Zonie's right; you'd need a heavy glove to fire it.

 

[appalichian hunter]

I figured it out, Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean, or Sleepy hollow, or a jack the ripper movie. I can see folks loosing sleep over this one. Where is Brit on this one it would be awesome for night shooting the Easter bunny

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Not to mention, the shooter’s hand/ forearm, would be just above the flash pan. Might be a good way to set your sleeve on fire.

 

[Brokenbear]

UPDATE: I have finally had time to go to my library for those of you interested ....The R.E. Dietz Company was established in 1868 ...I mis-spoke naming this lantern from memory as "Nightwatchman" ..it's actual name as marketed by Dietz was simply "Police Lantern" ..there were 2 generations made ..the first was built 1881 to 1887 ..the second generation which is the partial subject of this thread was built from 1888 to 1918 ...

The second generation DID have the ability to block light exiting without extinguishing the the wick whereas the first gen did not ...there fore this second generation was nicknamed "Police Flash Lantern" as the on/of mechanism was agile enough to use as a signal lantern also

Dang I hate it when my old brain misremembers something!

Bear

 

[Denny B]

I think it was an earlier prototype......View attachment 70180

HAHAHA

 

[Commodore Swab]

I believe it is comparable to the wheellock guns being made in the late 1800's A reproduction or just a build of something that may have existed but in itself still a unique antique.