Unknown Flintlock Pistol - Help needed!

[kieransephos]

I recently purchased this piece from an antiques shop and am having trouble identifying it.

I cannot tell if this is a reproduction that has been "aged" or an original.

There are no clear markings on the body of the firearm, see images, but it is quite embellished and I would assume more practical as an ornamental piece - judging by the lack of ramrod.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, I am contacting the seller so will update this with any info I can when they get back to me.

Cheers!

 

[Jakeytoo]

Looked like a weld bead running down the bottom of the bore.

 

[andy52]

I would put the pistol into the category of a Pakistani or Indian wall hanger.

 

[TFoley]

It is an incredible caricature wall-hanger intended for part of the wall that is usually in darkness, or at least deep gloom.

I remain astounded that anybody could possible mistake this object for a real firearm.

Here is a genuine article of the same genre -

 

[kieransephos]

It is an incredibly caricature wall-hanger intended for part of the wall that is usually in darkness, or at least deep gloom.

I remain astounded that anybody could possible mistake this object for a real firearm.

Here is a genuine article of the same genre -

View attachment 94646

Thank you for your contribution, I apologise that my knowledge is not up to the standard you would expect.

I had assumed that as the lock mechanism was functional and a touchhole bored that it was an actual firearm, and its age caused the wear and tear, but I am happy to be corrected.
I'll use this knowledge in future to know when I am looking at genuine articles.

Have a good day!

 

[TreeMan]

It is an incredible caricature wall-hanger intended for part of the wall that is usually in darkness, or at least deep gloom.

I remain astounded that anybody could possible mistake this object for a real firearm.

Here is a genuine article of the same genre -

View attachment 94646

Yep I hate to agree and disappointment the OP but that is a genuine Hobby Lobby piece.

 

[kieransephos]

Yep I hate to agree and disappointment the OP but that is a genuine Hobby Lobby piece.

No worries, I still think it looks interesting, but it is good to know that it isn't anything special, thank you.

 

[TreeMan]

No worries, I still think it looks interesting, but it is good to know that it isn't anything special, thank you.

I have several pieces like that hanging around my cabin. Takes the worries out of thievery.

 

[Auldjin]

I think the barrel really shows it was not meant for use, but stylistically it is not out of line with with plenty of Ottoman flintlocks which can range from exquisite to (frankly) rough.

 

[andy52]

I didn't say this in my first post and probably should have but by this time you have the idea.....Don't try and fire that pistol.

 

[kieransephos]

I think the barrel really shows it was not meant for use, but stylistically it is not out of line with with plenty of Ottoman flintlocks which can range from exquisite to (frankly) rough.

This is what I had first thought, but wasn't entirely sure.

I didn't say this in my first post and probably should have but by this time you have the idea.....Don't try and fire that pistol.

Of course not, I would never fire anything I got from an antiques shop without research into what I bought first, especially so without a gunsmith's opinion on it first.

 

[Sam squanch]

They make fun decorations, and costume additions, but aren’t worth much.

 

[bpd303]

Look up Khyber pass guns. Not only copies but guns made for the tourist trap trade.

 

[Bighorserider]

It would go well with a pirate costume or fun for kids to play with.

 

[MSW]

the style is reminiscent of what you might see from India during the 1960s (no slap at India ... they were making stuff which people bought, and thus supporting themselves - nothing wrong with that) ... i would not, of course, even dream of loading the thing...

hang it on the wall and when someone asks, "WTF is that??" you can tell them that you saw it in a store and it looked so ugly and pitiful that you just had to have it.


conversation starter

 

[toot]

it is definitely a poor quality non firing BAZZARR / TOURIST, NON GUN gun. hope you didn't pay much for it?

 

[russellshaffer]

Pretty sure that weld mark in the barrel is the seam in a water pipe. Go to a hardware store and look inside a pipe nipple. If the pipe is good quality the barrel would probably hold together but I bet the breechplug is welded rather than threaded. It's a great wallhanger and you can let your friends handle it at will. It might be a good idea to plug that touch hole somehow so no one tries to fire it in the future.

 

[Musketeer]

I remain astounded that anybody could possible mistake this object for a real firearm.

To be fair, until I'd been seriously into MLs for about a decade, had I seen this in some antique place I'd have thought it was a real gun. The crudeness would have just made me think it was made in a hut in some 3rd world location, sort of like the "Dane" guns so common in parts of Africa.

 

[rickystl]

Agree with the comments above. The pistol was made as a non-shooting gun for the Tourist trade. Just a decorator souvenir. There are literally hundreds of them spread out all over Europe and North America. The O/P pistol is one of the most common encountered. A generic copy of the Ottoman style flint pistols that were so prevalent in the Region during the first half of the 19th Century. This one was probably made during the 1970's or later. The copies made during the 1960's and earlier show much better workmanship, but are also just decorator pieces. It's good the O/P posted the pistol on this Forum so that it could be properly identified as a decorator only piece. Nothing lost. Here are a couple pics of others. They show up everywhere for sale.

Rick

 

[kieransephos]

Agree with the comments above. The pistol was made as a non-shooting gun for the Tourist trade. Just a decorator souvenir. There are literally hundreds of them spread out all over Europe and North America. The O/P pistol is one of the most common encountered. A generic copy of the Ottoman style flint pistols that were so prevalent in the Region during the first half of the 19th Century. This one was probably made during the 1970's or later. The copies made during the 1960's and earlier show much better workmanship, but are also just decorator pieces. It's good the O/P posted the pistol on this Forum so that it could be properly identified as a decorator only piece. Nothing lost. Here are a couple pics of others. They show up everywhere for sale.

RickView attachment 94765View attachment 94766View attachment 94767

Thanks very much for some more detailed information, I appreciate your research into this.
Forums like these are excellent places for collaborative discussion and I am glad I posted here, though I think some comments can be more helpful than others.

Thank you all for your comments so far!