Tiny pistol

[shortbow]

Hey Boys, I've got two quick questions about a very small pistol I got recently.

It is of a type generally called a "muff pistol", London proofs, 5.25" long, engraved, with a silver butt cap and grip shield, @.32 calibre, percussion, with a centrally hung hammer.

1) Were these types of guns always carried by ladies or were they also packed in a man's pocket?

2) It's in pretty fine shape and I fully plan on shooting it and would like some questimates on how much powder I should use behind a prb?

Thanks much.

 

[RADeO]

Can't say for sure whether men as well as women carried them but I don't see why they would not have done so.

Some of those pistols had screw-off barrels. There is a powder chamber in the breechplug which is exposed when the barrel is removed. The chamber would be filled with powder (3fg), and a naked ball placed in the concave end of the breechplug. The barrel would then be screwed back on and you would be ready to cap. A pistol of .32-caliber would probably use the the neighborhood of 8 to 10 grains of 3fg. If yours is not a screw-barrel, the same 8 to 10 grain load under a PRB should serve you well.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Remember, back then, the bullet didn't kill, it was the doctor, dentist, vet, or butcher that removed the bullet who really did the dirty deed.
Old Ford

 

[Zonie]

shortbow:

The "Muff Pistol" was only a woman's gun.

No self respecting man would call his gun a Muff Pistol. That's why he called the same gun a Pocket Pistol or sometimes a Vest Pistol.
:rotf:

 

[shortbow]

Thanks guys, all I needed to know about my new "Hee-man Mangle'em Vest Pocket Pistol." :haha:

Ten grains it is. I'll report back with what kind of groups I get at a hundred yards. :grin:

 

[junkman_01]

Everybody knows that only women have 'muffs'. Ever hear of 'muff diving'? :hmm: :grin:

 

[Zoar]

shortbow---Can we get a picture? :hatsoff:

Of your testosterone laden vest pistol?

 

[BillinOregon]

shortbow---Can we get a picture? :hatsoff:

Of your testosterone laden vest pistol?

:rotf:

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Is it a turn-off barrel that unscrews for loading? If so, you don't use a patch because the ball should be slightly larger than the bore like a modern bullet.

dave

 

[Zonie]

Now that you mention it, if it is that kind of a pistol it would have been made for a woman.

They seem to know all about "turn off's".
:rotf: