I got a pleasant surprise few weeks ago. One of the older ladies in my church said that she had an old, possibly Civil War era, pistol that had belonged to her father-in-law, and would I be interested in looking at it? From her description I knew it was a muzzleloading pocket pistol and thought she might have a Derringer or one of his imitators with a missing triggerguard, if it wasn't an old decoration or something of that nature. The next week, she shows me this:
Barrel length is about 4.75 from the front of the pan to the end of the muzzle, bore is about .48
Overall length is about 8 3/4"
I am guessing that this one dates to the first quarter of the nineteenth century. It is not a screw-barrel, but does have what looks like a welding seam where one would expect the screw to be:
It looks like it is complete, apart from a missing catch for the bayonet. It of course never had a triggerguard, but it does have a sliding safety - that fence thingy on top of the lock area that goes around the cock and engages with a hole in the frizzen. Along with the remains of some floral engraving, there is a mark on the barrel. Unfortunately, it is partially worn away, but I can still make out an oval with an E over an illegible letter and a G.
If anyone has any idea when or where this was made, both the owner and I would be interested in hearing it. She would also be interested in knowing how much it might be worth, though she does not intend to sell it. Thanks.
Elnathan
