Would you shoot this 1970's Japan import Tower Flint ?

[Sudsy]

I got it as part of an auction lot that had two rifles I wanted

Looks like the holes for the sights were drilled all the way through and the sights screwed in. Does that make this a no go for shooting ?

I have enough on my plate right now with 2 new revolvers and two new rifles, one of which is giving me fits trying to work up a load. and I don't want to deal with this.
I'm going to put it on the Buy Sell Trade forum but I don't want to overprice it, would be nice to break even though
What's it worth?
I'd like anyone who buys it to be able to sell if for at least 25% more on Ebay

The negatives
One screw is not a match, Was missing when I got it and I happened to have one that fit
Has a good sized chip on the butt by the cap
I tried to get it to spark but the one flint I have is way to big - and I'm brand new to flintlock so only have the one that came with the rifle

 

[NorthFork]

The front sight bead is nothing to worry about. Many shotguns, both modern cartridge and blackpowder muzzleloading, have front beads installed this way. It's normal. Can't tell how the rear sight is installed however..

 

[rafterob]

Interesting in that the Japanese Tower Pistol my brother had was fitted with a round barrel. That is the first one I have seen with an octagon barrel.

 

[mooman76]

I'd test with really light loads. Like maybe 10 grains.

 

[tenngun]

Does it throw a spark? Many of these had week frizzen spring and soft to boot.
I shot mine, round barreled and never had trouble

 

[Rudall]

The front sight bead is nothing to worry about. Many shotguns, both modern cartridge and blackpowder muzzleloading, have front beads installed this way. It's normal.

Surely not drilled right through, though? And the OP says that the rear sight is the same.

 

[NorthFork]

@Rudall

Yes on plain barrel shotguns (those without a rib) the threaded post for the bead is screwed into the barrel. The drilled and tapped hole goes all the way through the barrel wall. Very common. I own roughly a dozen shotguns that came from the factory that way.


As for the rear sight, I can't see how it is attached.

 

[Rudall]

I didn't know that, but on reflection the wall of a shotgun barrel is comparatively thin.

 

[Mulebrain]

I would load a full charge and fire it, they are actually pretty well made barrels.

They were built to shoot

 

[tenngun]

I shot a pvc pipe with a glued on cap. It lasted several shots before it blew. Forgett did some god awful charges on a Zouave barrel. I would feel safe with that gun to 30-40 grain charges and patched ball

 

[Elkhorse]

I've been looking for a fix it upper.
What do you want for it?

 

[ord sgt]

Hey, I really like the Phillips head screw on the side plate. I saw that once before. Someone bought a brand new Dixie Southern Mountain rifle and promptly replaced all the slotted wood screws with Phillips head screws.

 

[Sam squanch]

The stock wood on the one I had was brittle.

 

[troy2000]

I have a couple of those 70's Japanese Tower pistols. They were probably made by a different company though, because they' have round barrels. They're a hoot to shoot. I like to load them up pretty strong, hand them to friends who've never shot anything black powder before, and watch the gleeful smiles break out after they pull the trigger.

But sights on a Tower pistol are definitely wishful thinking. Seems to me they were originally designed as point-and-shoot weapons at close range, with mass cavalry charges in mind.

I'm no gunsmith, but if the rear sight has tight threads I'd probably shoot it using light loads. Don't take my word for it though...

 

[Musketeer]

Front sight is no prob. As mentioned, ribless shotguns are done that way. The rear sight I can't say for sure, but it doesn't seem likely you'd blow it off with a standard charge for a pistol that size. You might want to replace the rear sight screw with something of known quality that goes as deep into the hole as possible without impinging on the bore. If it were mine, that's the route I'd go, then I'd shoot it. ymmv.

 

[B P Arn]

I would load a full charge and fire it, they are actually pretty well made barrels.

They were built to shoot

I had one. I always shot full powered loads. The spark on mine was not overly strong, but there was enough there to fire reliably.

 

[Mulemauler]

Never seen one of these with an octagon barrel...wonder if that was changed out with the round one by a previous owner?

 

[Pukka Sahib]

I would bet the ranch that it has been “re-barreled”.

 

[wobranch]

Take the rear sight off and stick a straightened paper clip into each screw hole. That will tell you if the rear sight holes are drilled all the way into the bore. The front sight screw hole is no problem unless the sight protrudes into the barrel, if so, shorten it.

 

[flintlock75]

I have three Tower pistols, all have round barrels, .67 cal, I shoot them all , 35gr 3F .650 prb. They are fun to shoot, never had any problems with spark or function. Paid $25 for my first one and $125 for #3. They have no sights, point blank use.