Author Topic: My Little Pistol (Read 1947 times)

Kevin Houlihan · « **on:** August 29, 2023, 10:57:09 PM »

Activity has been a little light lately so I figured it would be a good time to post this. I've wanted an English "coat pistol" for a long time so a few years ago I started one. I used a "Becky" lock that I've had for a long time. The barrel is from Ryan at Muzzleloader Builder's Supply. It's a .54 cal rifle barrel off-cut 4" long and tapered 15/16 to 7/8. Ryan made me a long breech plug that's counterbored so that I could set the small lock farther back in relation to the barrel. It's got one of Ryan's 1/4 x 28, carbon steel touch hole liners. The trigger guard is from Jenny Goering. The cast pipe is from the parts bin. I made the trigger, trigger plate, side plate inlays, sights and barrel loop. The sights are set into grooves in the barrel or breech plug and soldered. I got some tips and moral support from Dave Person on these. Also, some idiot (me) broke the cast frizzen spring using pliers to remove it. So...the frizzen spring was made by me using a hacksaw, bench grinder and files - it works great! My friend Clint Wright talked me through the spring making process. The stock is stained with ferric nitrate crytals and finished with Permalyn and then Tried and True to soften the look. The wood and metal parts have all been aged. I hope you like the pictures.
Kevin

Joe Stein · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2023, 11:22:42 PM »

Very nice! Thanks for posting the work in progress,too.

ed lundquist · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2023, 01:49:18 AM »

Outstanding! Just enough, not too much. Nice.

JTR · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2023, 02:02:49 AM »

Looks like a handy little thing, and Nicely done!
John

dadybear1 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2023, 04:08:30 AM »

AND 54 CAL. VERY NICE--SUPER JOB

jbigley · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2023, 05:53:38 AM »

Really nice little piece! --JB

Martin S. · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2023, 10:29:53 AM »

I really like this. Thanks for the info on all the sources.

Can you PM or post contact info for Jenny Goering?

Also, is the "Becky" lock still available for sale? Where can I get one?

Thanks for posting! That is a really nifty little pistol. I've always liked the one by Houston Harrison on the blog.

elk killer · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2023, 01:19:21 PM »

Over the top simple nice..very well done, Ryan at Muzzleloader Builders Supply is a great guy to work with
I have 2 Beckys locks and a great piece of curly ash
Your work is impressive

smart dog · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2023, 02:19:48 PM »

Well done Kevin! I saw it at the fair. Great little pistol and oobviously the judges thought so too.

dave

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2023, 05:41:35 PM »

That is a neat one for sure!

Cory Joe

runastav · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2023, 06:16:24 PM »

Beautiful litle pistol, and lucky you guys who have gunmakers fair! Here in norway the nearest is knife building

Runar

Daryl · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2023, 09:04:15 PM »

GREAT little pistol.

Collector · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2023, 09:32:59 PM »

Staked front sight - and that small detail makes all the difference in this little pistol.

Very nicely done and obviously the judges thought so as well.

Congratulations!

A.Merrill · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2023, 01:25:19 AM »

Congratulations. That's a sweet little guy. Al

Kevin Houlihan · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2023, 01:37:35 AM »

Quote from: Martin S. on August 30, 2023, 10:29:53 AM

I really like this. Thanks for the info on all the sources.

Can you PM or post contact info for Jenny Goering?

Also, is the "Becky" lock still available for sale? Where can I get one?

Thanks for posting! That is a really nifty little pistol. I've always liked the one by Houston Harrison on the blog.

Thanks very much!

I bought the guard from Jenny at Dixon's show a few years ago. I did a search on this site and came up with this, but I have no idea if it's still good:
Jen Goehring Gun Casting
313 W, Donegal St.
Mount Joy, PA 17552
717-327-9634
Jennyandtheclowder@gmail.com

The Becky lock isn't available anymore. I've had this one for years. I learned the hard way that when you use something that's been out of production for a while and you break it, you could be in for an adventure

After I broke the frizzen spring, I called everywhere and couldn't find a replacement. The good news is that it forced me to make one, and now I know that I can.

TommyG · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2023, 01:48:21 AM »

Very well-done Kevin. I too had a chance to check it out at the fair. Very unique. Congrats on your well-deserved ribbon.

Crow Creek · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2023, 06:30:33 AM »

Very nice and thanks for the info Kevin.
For those interested Chris Hirsch sells a couple similar small lock kits.
cshirsch@windstream.net

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2023, 07:29:55 PM »

Lovely little pistol - I like it a lot! It reminded me of an original I had in the shop about forty years ago, and happened to photograph. Pics below...

Daryl · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2023, 11:16:07 PM »

I remember that one.

Kevin Houlihan · « **Reply #19 on:** September 01, 2023, 12:40:51 AM »

Thanks to everyone that liked the pistol or commented - it means alot to me. I don't post much work because my completion rate is SLOW. I've worked on this off and on for a couple of years - having a job with a long commute gets in the way. I've learned a ton from this site, the seminars and demo's at the Gunmakers Fair and my friend Clint.
I wanted something unique and different. I've seen these pistols both rifled and smooth and with and without sights. It's never going to be a target pistol

I was at least hoping to end up with a pistol that if it was on a table with a bunch of originals, at least it wouldn't look out of place. I wanted to try inset sights, a barrel key that didn't need an escutcheon to hide gaps and a little patina.
I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to answer questions, shown their projects and offered information.
Thanks,
Kevin

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Author Topic: My Little Pistol (Read 1947 times)