Mid-1800s pistol by Mathias Ringle

[Stevesgllm7]

Hi there folks. I'm new to all of this and I'm trying to help a computer-challenged friend gather some information on an old percussion cap pistol he owns.

The gun (see photos) was made by a man named Mathias Ringle out of Blairsville, Pa., I believe sometime in the 1850s. It's an odd gun, i.e. percussion nipple on bottom side of barrel, etc.

There's not much information on Ringle to be had - I've found only three entries online - one of which is Ancestry.com and the other two are separate entries for two long rifles made by Ringle which include his stamp on the barrel and stocks made of tiger maple (which he had a good supply of and/or of which he was rather fond).

So, with such a dearth of information I am forced to petition members for their help and knowledge on this pistol. Any idea of its fair market value would be welcome as well.

Thanks very much in advance for your attention and help in this matter.

Steve

[oakridge]

I don't see any photos, but it sounds like you're describing an underhammer pistol. American Gunsmiths, by Sellers, lists Mathias Ringle, Blairsville, Penn., 1835-1872. No other info.

[Shreckmeister]

Mathias Ringle's father, also named Mathias Ringle was a wagon maker at Valley Forge during the Rev War
and a good bit of information is available about him.