Author Topic: Interesting ML pistol  (Read 4717 times)

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Interesting ML pistol
« on: September 17, 2014, 11:53:27 PM »
A friend of mine owns this pistol. It has a 16 inch smoothbore barrel around 55 caliber. He doesn't think the nose of the hammer is designed for normal percussion caps. He knows nothing more about it and would like to see if anyone could provide an info on it. He is an ALR member but does not post text much less photos! I talked him into letting me post the photos below.

Note how tight the wood to metal fit is.
Dennis
















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Offline Don Getz

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2014, 12:17:39 AM »
Well, that is different.   I think it is a canoe pistol...........Don

Offline PPatch

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2014, 12:33:25 AM »
Well, that is different.   I think it is a canoe pistol...........Don

That had me laughing Don. I see your illness has not effected your humor.

dave
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2014, 01:03:05 AM »
Maybe it started out as a pinfire pistol.
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Offline E.vonAschwege

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2014, 02:19:51 AM »
Something made in Asia or perhaps even Africa?  I've seen long muskets with locks like this on Gunbroker from time to time - the sellers are usually clueless as to their origin.  Is the breech area of the stock poured pewter? 
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Offline bama

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2014, 03:32:46 PM »
Dennis thanks for showing this pistol, it is definitely out of the norm and very well constructed. Could it possibly use musket caps?
Jim Parker

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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2014, 03:39:06 PM »
Interesting. Doesn't look much like the guns I found in SE Asia though... maybe more Central Asian?
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Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2014, 06:52:56 PM »
Is the breech area of the stock poured pewter? 

This from the owner of the pistol.
Quote
The breech area is steel and NOT pewter.

Maybe it started out as a pinfire pistol.
Possibly, the owner said he had not seen a percussion hammer like this, possibly made for some type of homemade percussion cap.

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend" - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Collector

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2014, 08:08:17 PM »
My best guess would be that it's a Pakistan/Middle Eastern tourist item.  Too many incongruous features combined in one piece. 

The engraving on the lock plate (the 'open eye' [Egypt] and vines) is very representative of that area.  The additional engraving at the breech, the muzzle and vertically along both sides of the grip, are also very representative of the regional style preferences in flintlock/percussion era pieces.

It does have tight inletting... and the addition of a dark black material at the butt is a nice touch, but a little too much.

Good luck!!

Offline heelerau

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Re: Interesting ML pistol
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2014, 10:43:11 AM »
Mate, suspect, India, Pakistan or Khyber pass.  Made for the tourist trade. 

Cheers

Gordon
Keep yor  hoss well shod an' yor powdah dry !