Author Topic: Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?  (Read 3967 times)

hawknknife

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Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?
« on: August 02, 2011, 07:42:34 PM »
Gentlemen,
these are two flintlock British pistols that a family brought to me to get an idea of value and age and info.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
www.hawknknife.com
hawknknife@hotmail.com
 

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Offline smart dog

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Re: Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2011, 12:05:43 AM »
Hi Hawknknife,
Hopefully, Feltwad and Joe Puleo will chime in.  Both pistols likely were made in Birmingham, England.  Neither is London made, although Ketland and Co sometimes labeled their export guns with London.  The first is a 2 barrel turn-off pistol probably made in the late 1790s or shortly after 1800.  The grooves in the muzzle are designed to accept the barrel wrench or key, which is used to unscrew them.  They are export quality but certainly well made.  The second was probably made by William Walsingham who worked in Birmingham from 1767-1783.  It is a classic second quality turn-off pistol with a box lock.  Many were made and exported as well as sold in England for pocket pistols.  Your Walsingham pistols are certainly well made and the decoration is competently done, although the engraving is fairly crude.  With repect to value, I would suggest you go to a number of antique gun auction sites and look at what Birmingham-made turnoff pistols are fetching these days.  They are in pretty good condition.

dave
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2011, 12:28:40 AM »
Hawknknife,

With regard to the Walsingham pistol, I feel in general the engraving is pretty nice quality.  Not top of the line British work, but when viewed viewed within the scope of British work done during this time period I feel it stands up pretty well.  I must say, the nick and dot border work is a bit of a let down though.  It appears that some repair or replacement has been attempted on the wire work. This doesn't appear to have been done too well.  Overall, I think the pistol has nice appeal.

Jim

Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2011, 12:49:35 AM »
Some folks call the two barrel gun a 'tap action', as you select the order of fire by the small lever on the left side. Nice gun, and by Ketland, at that. The second falls into the 'box lock' category and is made in the Queen Anne style, including the grotesque mask on the butt. Not sure of exact value, but have seen them fetch $1800 to $2500, and even more.
Thank you for bringing them by.
Dick

realtorone

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Re: Two Flintlock British Pistols...help please?
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2011, 04:24:20 PM »
A Tap Action with a lot more inlayed wire in the handle just sold at a local show last weekend for $ 875.00 Lower Alabama

George