Reproduction Naval varient of a French 1720 Cavalry Pistol

[Story]

First off, this is an Indian-manufactured pistol acquired about 10 years ago from Loyalist Arms. http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/1720's french pistol.html
Flee now if that bothers you, but I'm doing this thing.

As I remember, it was cheap because there were *issues* with the lock. I remember completely disassembling it, stripping the finish off of the stock and that's about where I stopped.

My intent was to do a simple refinish, along with fixing the lock, hardening the frizzen and drilling the barrel (which has interesting markings).

I'm also adding a belt hook (picked up at Dixon's one summer, ages ago).

 

[Story]

First off, I knocked off the factory hyper-shiney finish by running the major parts over the wire brush on my table grinder.

The pan was mis-set, and took some time to grind into shape (no pics of this drama, sorry).

Note the original position I had in mind for the belt hook, at the rear bolt.

I didn't like that for a number of reasons, even tho most surviving originals are found in that position.

Wood was removed (no pics), lockplate and sideplate more-or-less set.

There's obviously more work to be done, but I'm close to setting the rear of the lockplate.

 

[Story]

Reference for this project is the excellent
Boarders Away, Volume II: Firearms of the Age of Fighting Sail 1St Edition Edition
(holy cow, 1st editions are spendy these days!) https://www.amazon.com/Boarders-Away-II-Firearms-Fighting/dp/0917218566
p.237-238 specifically addresses the 1720 French Cavalry Pistol.

Note that Muzzleloader Builders Supply offers a
1733-1760 French Dragoon Cavalry Pistol https://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/pistols/17331760dragoon.html
and the Rifle Shoppe has their 1733 French Dragoon Pistol http://www.therifleshoppe.com/catalog_pages/french_pistols/(540).htm

Not my video
Shooting the French 1733 Dragoon Flintlock Pistol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Bot81mMI8

Lastly, if you don't want to send American money to Canada for an Indian-made pistol, there's Americans who will see you this - http://middlesexvillagetrading.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=81

 

[Story]

So, what next?

In addition to finishing the inletting for the rear of the lockplate, the 'tail' of the belt hook really needs to be pinned to the sideplate.

I'll find a nice thin old-'murican made steel bolt, drill & tap then trim.

I mentioned the lock having *issues*. During the course of filing and dremeling away excess metal from the pan, I noticed that when the pan retaining bolt was firmly seated the rear lock retaining bolt holes in the lock plate and pan did not line up.

Since the rear lock retaining bolt holes in both pan and lockplate are threaded, I'll probably wind up over-boring the pan hole to attain the needed clearance.

 

[Story]

To be clear, pinning the belt hook to the sideplate would provide an extra level of strength.

 

[Chowmif16]

That's a lot of work, kudos to you for doing it!!

One thing about the belt hook (note that I know absolutely nothing of these pistols...), seems like if you put it where you are planning, the weight distribution of the pistol on the belt will be all wrong. A significant portion of the weight of the pistol would be above the belt, and the pistol could/would shimmy back and forth, and fall out.

Seems like you want the bulk of the weight of the pistol below the bolt on the belt hook.
Just a thought.

Cheers,
Chowmi

 

[hawkeye2]

Chwomi you are absolutely right.

 

[Story]

That's a lot of work, kudos to you for doing it!!

Thanks, it was actually easier than it sounds.

As for the belt hook location,
Note the original position I had in mind for the belt hook, at the rear bolt. I didn't like that for a number of reasons, even tho most surviving originals are found in that position.