recycled guns

[mlbrant]

I have read of rifles and muskets made of recycled parts made in the colonies for the Rev War.  Do you think pistols would have been made this way to? I want to build a Southern backwoods pistol made with parts from other guns. Curly maple stock, small Germanic lock (siler), had forged triggerguard, French sideplate, English thimbles and maybe English military thumb inlay on the grip. WHY DO YOU GUYS THINK?

[Acer Saccharum]

I don't know why I think.





I'd use an English lock for a Southern parts gun.

[Mark Elliott]

Pistols are almost exclusively a pure luxury item.   They have little practical use for most people.  Most of them are fairly fancy and made for wealthy individuals.  I have never seen nor would I expect one to be patched together out of mismatched parts.   Even if parts were reused, I would expect the work to be stylistically consistent.    Of course as soon as you set a rule,  someone comes up with an exception.   I agree with Acer; use a small English lock.     Also,  make mounts that match.   

[Acer Saccharum]

a RE-STOCKED pistol could be an area of creativity with a story line to go with it.

[Dave B]

I saw a very cool colonial period pistol that was accommodation of  sea service parts, wave side plate, square nut for the barrel tang to screw into and a dragoon butt cap. It could have been made in England the pistol barrel was proofed in England but no broad arrow on the barrel. But the lock had a broad arrow.  The stock looked like maple. It could have been a pistol restock from various parts. It was a cool pistol none the less.

[David Rase]

Parts guns offer you a lot of artistic license to be creative as long as you are try to the time period.  I have done several American Muskets using what would of been battlefield parts brought to an American gunsmith and stocked up in curly maple.  Jack Brooks has made some really cool "Frontier Guns" using a variety of parts to stock up his guns.  They were all very plausible.  No reason why you cannot do a pistol.  Wish I would of thought of the idea.  Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
David

[kaintuck]

Like a single shot Henry rifle bored out smooth barrel......

Be careful that you don't spend 200 hrs on a project your ashamed to be seen with...

Take your ......this isn't a race
Marc

[Bob Roller]

There are a number of American made muzzle loading pistols in the Huntington Museum of Art and they all show fairly decent workmanship. THEN,there are the fine cased English pistols.Superb craftsmanship,fine little locks,fit and finish to be an inspiration to any who want to copy them.Some of the best workmanship in the American pistols is shown in a pair of "Lincoln"Derringers.

Bob Roller

[mlbrant]

Thanks all for the advice!!!! I think I will go ahead with the project if nothing changes. Even though it will be a Southern backwoods gun I still want to use a recycled Germanic lock instead of an English one. I want this pistol to be totally made of battlefield finds with the exception of an backwoods forged  triggerguard.I would guess there were many Pennsylvania and northern colonists who fought battles in the Southern colonies with the British. Perhaps after being killed one of their guns was a battlefield find  and then used by a poor backwoodsman who needed a pistol after being called into service as an officer? So far here is my ideas:
1. C maple stock
2. Germanic lock
3.Primitive forged triggerguard
4. French or English sideplate
5.Round or octagon/round 12" barrel
6.Stock shaped in the style of English pistols of the time
7. Hand forged butt cap
This pistol will be one that has been handed down through a Southern Mountain family for generations maybe until the 1830s and then converted to percussion  maybe to be used in hunting bear. Many of the old mountain people did use  pistols for hunting bear.

[Hungry Horse]

 My question is what part of this project is Southern mountain? Not the lock. Not the stock ( at least from the styling you mentioned). And not most of  the furniture. The only part of this project that might be construed as "Southern mountain" is the trigggerguard. I would also think a buttcap on a salvaged parts gun, from the region you suggest, during a war, would be unlikely. A French, or English, style lock would lend the project more credibility. I would also consider a barrel made to look like a damaged musket, or officers fusil barrel, shortened to pistol length. Side plates in pistol size would be an unlikely find, consider a hand made one, or just washers.

              Hungry Horse

[Acer Saccharum]

Make sure you put claw marks on it. And notches on the stock. 

[rich pierce]

In general when a gun is made in such a way that the "story" behind it is complicated, the gun reflects personal ideas about what would be cool or fun rather than representing something that likely ever existed.  And that's fine. Everyone should build what they want.  We do this for fun.  But asking advice about parts selection when ones mind is made up, when the image is already in the brain, is unlikely to be productive for anybody involved. 

[Micah2]

I like Jim Kibler's thought as read from muzzleloading magazine. Creativity trumps historically correct.  Build the pistol, I like the idea of a rough and tumble parts pistol, I can see it.  Good luck.  Be careful, pistols scare me.  Actually all guns scare me and I hope it stays that way.

[tallbear]

Micah

While I certainly respect Jim and value his opinion , but as a reminder this is a direct quote from the ALR's mission statement.

The mission of AmericanLongrifles.com is to promote and support the art and craft of building historically accurate long rifles, related firearms, and accoutrements of the highest quality and artistic merit.

There are many internet muzzle loading sites where historical accuracy has no bearing, this site fortunately isn't one of them.


Mitch Yates

[Long John]

I built a pistol a couple of years ago using French barrel, TG, butt cap, side plate and lock (made from a Siler kit) but stocked in American Black walnut with American style carving.  My lie was that an American smith was given a broken French pistol to restock.

I'm the only person that likes it.  But it does shoot good!

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[Acer Saccharum]

I'm the only person that likes it. 

too funny, John!

[Jim Kibler]

Micah

While I certainly respect Jim and value his opinion , but as a reminder this is a direct quote from the ALR's mission statement.

The mission of AmericanLongrifles.com is to promote and support the art and craft of building historically accurate long rifles, related firearms, and accoutrements of the highest quality and artistic merit.

There are many internet muzzle loading sites where historical accuracy has no bearing, this site fortunately isn't one of them.


Mitch Yates

Maybe you are misinterpreting  my quote a little, Mitch.  Surely you know my work and approach.  And I may be misinterpreting your take as well.  So all is good regardless

Jim

[tallbear]

Jim

I didn't misinterpret your quote   but suspected the poster had, but at the same time didn't wish to speak for you.Thanks for clarifying.

My basic point was that unlike other internet muzzle loading sites who shout down, drive off or suspend anyone who pushes an historically correct agenda not only is it encouraged here it is part of our mandate!!!

Mitch

[Jim Kibler]

Let me add, that I take issue with the implication that my work or approach doesn't fit within the mission of ALR.  This surely isn't what you meant?  I must be taking this wrong.

Jim

[tallbear]

Jim

You are taking it wrong !!!!

[Jim Kibler]

I'm sorry  

[tallbear]

So am I !! My intent was the opposite!!

[rich pierce]

Jim, I can usually read the influences on your rifles, not that I know everything about originals.  But I can usually say something like "Schroyer would have loved this one!" And to me, that is working in the historical context.

[Micah2]

There are sure to have been thousands of parts guns made that did not make it to this century for our study. I think that the spirit of the builder is just as important as the product of his efforts.  I am not talking about fantasy guns per se, rather imaginative licensing of those guns we may never see again.  Thank you for your response and for a better understanding of your perspective.  I do still however believe that the build suggested by the person who started the topic is congruent with the mission statement as read.