You guys may know what this is.

[Old Painless]

I admit I don’t that much about black powder guns. Every thing I shoot is made in Italy for now. I met a guy at my club that showed me a head scratcher.
He talked to me like I was well versed in the subject. I just went along and said nice, came away thinking there is a lot to know about black powder guns.

 

[Cavalry Joe]

Can you get some additional photos ? Profile views and anything with markings on them or the case ? Interesting set of dueling pistols…..

 

[Old Painless]

Sorry, I have not other pictures of it.

 

[Brazos John]

Is that an NRA Medallion in the case?
Is it set into the case, or just laying there?

 

[Dale Lilly]

I have no credentials or experience. However, t he square tube running through the ball chamber tells me this is a pair of REPEATING pistols. I have seen one other similar weapon. Just my 1 1/2 cents worth. Polecat Edit: they are beautiful and certainly very valuable.

 

[SDSmlf]

Interesting set of dueling pistols…..

Don’t believe dueling pistols were rifled.

 

[Cavalry Joe]

Don’t believe dueling pistols were rifled.

Yes, they were rifled.

 

[SDSmlf]

Yes, they were rifled.

Believe I’ve only read about ‘scratch’ rifling in dueling pistols, which wasn’t much of an accuracy aid. Every reference I have implies rifling in dueling pistols was consider ‘un-gentlemanly’ or something similar. Do you have references about rifling being used in dueling pistols?

 

[Cavalry Joe]

…..In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm.[13] The short range most duels took place at, combined with the accuracy of rifled pistols meant their use substantially increased the chances of a fatality during a duel.[13] A pair of rifled pistols often included a small hammer or mallet as an accessory; they used slightly oversized bullets and a hammer was needed to drive the bullet down the barrel when loading.

Pauly, Roger (1 January 2004). Firearms: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-313-32796-4.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I agree with Dale on the square tube. I does look like a type of repeater. One term I have heard a long time ago was “harmonica gun”. This could some form of that.

Regardless, interesting and beautiful.

 

[SDSmlf]

…..In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm.[13] The short range most duels took place at, combined with the accuracy of rifled pistols meant their use substantially increased the chances of a fatality during a duel.[13] A pair of rifled pistols often included a small hammer or mallet as an accessory; they used slightly oversized bullets and a hammer was needed to drive the bullet down the barrel when loading.

Pauly, Roger (1 January 2004). Firearms: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-313-32796-4.

Opposite of what I have read in the past. Thanks for the reference.

 

[Dale Lilly]

I agree with Dale on the square tube. I does look like a type of repeater. One term I have heard a long time ago was “harmonica gun”. This could some form of that.

Regardless, interesting and beautiful.

Bingo! Dale. That's what the one I saw was called.

 

[Cavalry Joe]

Fascinating little mystery… I will keep digging.

 

[Sam squanch]

Not a harmonica gun. I can’t remember the technical name, but you push the block over and a charge of powder and a ball is seated. Not very safe.

 

[Old Painless]

If you look in the back of the picture you will see the pistol grip comes off.

 

[denster]

I have always wondered why sets of pistols nearly always get refered to as dueling pistols? As to dueling pistols I seriously doubt rifling was ever considered a plus during the age of dueling as a smooth bore gives up nothing to a rifled bore at the distances duels were fought. I have owned and shot multiple sets of smooth bore duelers and with a little practice it is not hard to keep all shots on a playing card out to 15yds.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

It's a Girandoni repeater. The tube on the right side of the barrel is the magazine. The rectangular bar at the breech is pushed to the right while the muzzle is elevated, allowing a ball into it. When released it brings the ball back in line with the bore.

I can't tell from the pic if it's a firearm or an airgun. If the latter, the butt serves as the air resevoir.

 

[hawkeye2]

Rifled or smoothbore they are not dueling pistols. Why is there such a rush to call a pair of cased pistols dueling pistols?

 

[Sam squanch]

I believe those are air powered pistols. Look closely at the “ hammer”, I don’t see any percussion tube anywhere.

 

[Cavalry Joe]

Well excuse the F out of me for mentioning dueling pistols….at first glance, that’s what came to mind. Then the convo went that way regarding rifling….which many dueling pistols did have…. Anyhow, they have now been identified as to what they actually are.