I have a Swinburn and Son double barrel percussion flintlock pistol and I cannot find any information on the web or otherwise on this pistol. It has British stamps and a belt holder on it as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Swinburn and Son percussion double barrel flintlock pistol
- Thread starter bigfig58
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Oh boy I get to say it first!
Photos please!
Photos please!
Rebecca,
Flintlock and percussion refer to two separate firearm ignition systems, the pistol you mention would be one or the other, but not both.
If you can take some pictures and post them here we can likely help you out with the identification. Also, welcome to the forum.
Alex Johnson
Flintlock and percussion refer to two separate firearm ignition systems, the pistol you mention would be one or the other, but not both.
If you can take some pictures and post them here we can likely help you out with the identification. Also, welcome to the forum.
Alex Johnson
Couldn't find any pistols but found a double rifle....
http://firearmscollector.com/cat/cat_details.asp?id=795
And a little about the makers...
http://birminghamgunmuseum.com/index.php?pr=C_P_Swinburn_and_Son
http://firearmscollector.com/cat/cat_details.asp?id=795
And a little about the makers...
http://birminghamgunmuseum.com/index.php?pr=C_P_Swinburn_and_Son
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Well, it's a percussion pistol, and it looks like a beautiful one at that. I hope and trust some member here will be able to chime in with some worthwhile information for you.
Really a lovely gun. I don't want to insult you but I have no way of knowing your familiarity with firearms. Can you tell if its barrels are smooth or rifled? Rifling would look like a few swirling grooves if you looked down the barrel.
Really a lovely gun. I don't want to insult you but I have no way of knowing your familiarity with firearms. Can you tell if its barrels are smooth or rifled? Rifling would look like a few swirling grooves if you looked down the barrel.
Well, it looks like the barrels are smooth. I really do not know much about antique firearms. The butt stock opens at at the bottom so shot could be loaded- maybe two. The words Swinburn and Son are imprinted on the top of the barrel.
Welcome to the Forum Rebecca. 
The compartment on the bottom of the grip was most likely used to store spare percussion caps.
As you may be new to the workings of these guns, a small copper percussion cap is placed on each barrels nipple or "cone". The hammer(s) blow against the cap results in it firing and the resultant flame ignites the powder charge inside the gun barrel.
Although your pistol could have been used anywhere, the Scottish were particularly fond of belt hooks on their pistols, even thru the 1800's.
The compartment on the bottom of the grip was most likely used to store spare percussion caps.
As you may be new to the workings of these guns, a small copper percussion cap is placed on each barrels nipple or "cone". The hammer(s) blow against the cap results in it firing and the resultant flame ignites the powder charge inside the gun barrel.
Although your pistol could have been used anywhere, the Scottish were particularly fond of belt hooks on their pistols, even thru the 1800's.
Rebecca, can you measure the diameter of the bore and take a picture with a tape measure in the background, this would give us some idea about the size. I have seen some Howda pistols configured like this. A Howda was a last ditch defensive pistol for hunting dangerous game.
Most of these stack-barreled guns were designed to be pocket or coat guns for self defense and usually average around .50-.52 caliber. The names may actually be the dealer rather than the maker, which was typical for British firearms of that period, probably 1840-1860. The true Howdah pistols were much larger and averaged bores from .55 to .90, sometimes even larger. Howdah was actually the term for the seating fixtures used atop elephants when tiger hunting in India. The big bore pistols were basically last-ditch defense if "kitty" decided to jump up there and get some two-legged supper! Brings new meaning to 'repel boarders'!!
Hi,
I wish I could tell you about your pistol but I have nothing to add.
Just wanted to wave and say howdy. Not very many women come to this forum.
I wish I could tell you about your pistol but I have nothing to add.
Just wanted to wave and say howdy. Not very many women come to this forum.
