Author Topic: old flintlock pistol  (Read 4009 times)

cobracoach

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old flintlock pistol
« on: January 21, 2012, 08:41:01 PM »
tryng to determine an insurance value for a friend that is clueless. the hammer is in the bag in 2 pieces. any help would be appreciated.
http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc418/cobracoach/
« Last Edit: January 21, 2012, 08:47:16 PM by cobracoach »

Offline rich pierce

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2012, 09:32:06 PM »
Looks French 1740's first guess.  Full length pix would help.
Andover, Vermont

Offline smart dog

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2012, 10:15:03 PM »
Hi,
You need to provide better photos.  The barrel seems to have a proof mark on the left side that almost looks English but the photo is not clear.  There is also writing on the lockplate that we need to see. 

dave
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cobracoach

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2012, 11:13:03 PM »
   Yeah I was disappointed with the detail after I downloaded the pics. I`m not sure if I can get the gun back, but will check.
   I have a fraction of the historical knowelage of you gents on here but I have been involved in muzzleloading for 35 years I`ve never seen anything this old looking and ornate.

Offline alex e.

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2012, 01:31:10 AM »
If that is a name one the lock plate, chances are you can find when,who & where it was made.
Uva uvam videndo varia fit

Offline nord

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2012, 01:43:38 AM »
Gentlemen,

I believe a Birmingham proof from what I can enlarge and reasonably speculate. More than that I can't say.
In Memory of Lt. Catherine Hauptman Miller 6/1/21 - 10/1/00 & Capt. Raymond A. Miller 12/26/13 - 5/15/03...  They served proudly.

Offline JTR

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2012, 02:32:59 AM »
Better pictures, or a name on the barrel or lock, would make for an easier answer.
Could be French or English, etc. 1750 would be a good date guess, but could be 50 years later too.
The wood carving looks nice although not unusually fancy, and it looks like a little bit of simple engraving on the metal. Despite the nice looking carving, this wouldn't have been a high end pistol of the time, more of a mid range example.
Price-wise, I think it would sell for $1500/$2000 tops and probably less. If it was made by a famous maker, maybe a bit more.
The broken hammer could be repaired pretty easily for a couple hundred bucks or so. Tell your friend not to loose the broken piece of hammer because having to make a replacement part would up the repair bill by a good bit!

John 
John Robbins

cobracoach

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2012, 05:59:09 PM »
thanks for everyones input. I have posted a couple more pics I still had on my computer, one which shows the name on the lock. it reads "Le Feuvpl Fil". under that reads "Nar Bonne" and a possible t at the end under the frizzen spring. I also included one that sort of shows the gold inlay work on the barrel. i did not mention that it is a smoothbore appx .45 to .50 cal if memory serves. thanks for looking

Offline Steve Collward

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Re: old flintlock pistol
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2012, 11:15:40 PM »
Robert Gardner's "Small Arms Maker's" cites Le Faure Fils, working in Paris 1760-73.