Author Topic: Kentucky Pistol identification  (Read 3672 times)

Offline Shreckmeister

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3757
  • GGGG Grandpa Schrecengost Gunsmith/Miller
Kentucky Pistol identification
« on: March 23, 2015, 06:06:05 PM »
   I had the opportunity to pick up a simple but well made, small, unsigned KY pistol at the Baltimore show over the weekend.  It's a nice
little pistol with a Bird & Brothers Philadelphia percussion lock.  The only features which set it apart from any other pistol
is there is a brass diamond shaped  inlay on top of the wrist and a larger brass diamond shaped inlay on the butt held on with a steel
screw.  The other feature is that the butt is on the smaller side and trigger guard is steel.  I don't have a KY pistol book, but if this rings any bells to
anyone, please share your thoughts.  I will try to take pictures and post them after work.  The only example that looked similar that
I could find said that unsigned pistol was likely southern.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2015, 08:35:20 PM by Shreckmeister »
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline E.vonAschwege

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3118
    • von Aschwege Flintlocks
Re: Kentucky Pistol identification
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2015, 06:10:19 PM »
Shreck - I'll pull out the book and compare when I see some of your photos later this afternoon.  Sounds like a neat piece - does the varnish have any color in it?  I've seen lots of Lehigh-ish pistols with "Bird" or "Pird" locks on them. 
-Eric

Former Gunsmith, Colonial Williamsburg www.vonaschwegeflintlocks.com

Offline Shreckmeister

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3757
  • GGGG Grandpa Schrecengost Gunsmith/Miller
Re: Kentucky Pistol identification
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2015, 09:40:27 PM »
Eric,  The pistol is a violin black/reddish color
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Shreckmeister

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3757
  • GGGG Grandpa Schrecengost Gunsmith/Miller
Re: Kentucky Pistol identification
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2015, 02:36:42 PM »
I realize this is a longshot because this pistol is plain, but here are the photos.







Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Dennis Glazener

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19360
    • GillespieRifles
Re: Kentucky Pistol identification
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2015, 12:26:48 AM »
What caliber is it?

I agree it looks like it might have been made in the south.

Dennis
« Last Edit: March 25, 2015, 12:32:21 AM by Dennis Glazener »
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend" - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Bill-52

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 373
Re: Kentucky Pistol identification
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2015, 02:32:00 AM »
Rob,

I didn't find any matches in my few KY pistol books (Dyke, Chandler/Whisker & KRA) but, FWIW, I did notice that most of the bag style gripped pistols were southern.

Bill