"Underhammer" pistol

[codymobley]

All,
In the next few months I will be attempting to replicate two styles of underhammer pistols with extremely simplistic firing mechanisms. These are the two styles in question:

My question is if any of ya'll have built similar styles and if you ran into any snags in the layout that I need to be aware of in advance. (Notably in the second design with the interlocking hammer and trigger)

Thanks!
Cody Mobley

 

[Don]

I believe Coyotejoe built one similar to the top photo. As I recall it was a big bored son of a gun. Try PMing him if he doesn't reply to this post.

Don

 

[BillinOregon]

Cody, that Correvon is fascinating. Can't wait to see how yours turns out.

 

[brobb]

Like this?

Bruce Robb

 

[brobb]

This is my first of this type. What exactly do you want to know?

Bruce Robb

 

[codymobley]

Those look great! I was just wondering if there was anything in particular that needed to be taken into consideration when creating the 'action' of the pistol. The original doesn't seem to have any internal mainspring since the ring trigger is mounted externally, did you use an internal mainspring on yours to return the trigger to it's original position after firing?

 

[brobb]

There is no trigger return spring.

These are constructed as simply as I could. There is no breech plug the drilled and reamed bore is a blind hole. A round tennon is turned on the breech end of the barrel, the tennon fits into a hole in the stock and is secured by a cross pin. The muzzle end of the spring/hammer is fastened with a screw and can pivot to allow placing a cap on the nipple and to enable the trigger to be reset. The spring/hammer is preloaded to pres against the trigger. The breech end of the spring/hammer has a very small turn up towards the barrel. This turned up section has a notch in it which will prevent the spring/hammer from pivoting unless you pull down on the spring first and then pivot the spring.

The trigger pull (double action) is long and creepy. If you need rifling or sights you are way too far away! These pistols have nothing to contain fragments from the percussion caps and if you shoot them enough said fragments will hit your fingers.

These are very simple pistols with limited uses, but nonetheless generate a lot of interest and comment when people see them.

Bruce Robb

 

[paulvallandigham]

A "Skirt" is put around the face of the hammer to extend up and around the nipple, to contain the cap fragments so that they don't injure the shooter. Often the skirt- but not always-- will have a "hair-lip" cut in the front of the skirt to direct fragments forward, away from the shooter's fingers and hand. You can see a skirt on the hammer on one of the original guns pictured above. :hmm:

 

[fusil de chase]

Wow, so brilliantly simple.

 

[John Taylor]

Before you start cutting metal cut the parts out of construction paper and check how the parts work together ( paper dolls).Used this process when making a back-ho into a faller buncher for logging. Much easier than trying to do the math on booms and hydraulic cylinder length.

 

[codymobley]

And much easier than the wooden pattern pieces I usually cut out with a band saw! Thanks for the idea.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

admirable in the simplicity of it. :thumbsup:
I've seen fotos of some elegant u-hammer pistols, always wanted a pistol and rifle.