Flintlock Target Pistol

[rjpalmer]

I hope I may inquire about several "modern " style. flintlock target pistols I've seen latley with modern era sculpted grips and a right hand flintlock mounted on the left side of the pistol. I understand why the sculpted grips are used, but why a backwards mounted flintlock with a cock that drops toward the shooter.I can't in my wildest imagination think of a reason that this would be a good idea or offer some advantage to the target shooter Why haven't I seen a rifle like this?. I guess I don't get out enough. Can anyone explain?

[Bob Roller]

I hope I may inquire about several "modern " style. flintlock target pistols I've seen latley with modern era sculpted grips and a right hand flintlock mounted on the left side of the pistol. I understand why the sculpted grips are used, but why a backwards mounted flintlock with a cock that drops toward the shooter.I can't in my wildest imagination think of a reason that this would be a good idea or offer some advantage to the target shooter Why haven't I seen a rifle like this?. I guess I don't get out enough. Can anyone explain?

Back in the early 1950's when I started into muzzle loading guns there were few new ones being made
and if there were they were cobbled up from whatever was available. I recall an article in the April 1953
Muzzle Blasts that was about a rifle made up from a Swiss Vetterli 10.4MM or .41 Swiss and a shotgun
lock. He won matches with it and was proud of it.
The left hand lock on the right side of the pistol was probably an expedient because the maker HAD the lock
and figured out a way to use it.
There is a rifle made like that and I think Dixie sells (sold) them. Brislen/Morges maybe?
Looking back at the then new muzzle loaders we had then and comparing them with some of new ones
we saw at the recent CLA show shows how much we have improved in parts and craftsmanship in the
last 60 years. Those rifles and pistols from the 50's and 60's would do well to be stripped of useful parts
by a good maker working today.

Bob Roller

[Robin Henderson]

Frizzen would probably be better suited than me to answer this but for the one hand hold that target shooters use it offers a few possible advantages. By positioning the lock like this one is able to move the barrel back which will help with balance. Also, A longer sight radius can be achieved with the use of a longer barrel. One other thing is that set triggers can be more easily position in relationship to the sear.

[bama]

I have had one of these pistols and shot it in the matches at Friendship. This design seems strange but it has it's advantages in a target pistol. Some have been mentioned by Wobblyshot, who is an excellant pistol shot by the way. Another big advantage is the rotation of the cock. In a conventional design the rotation of the cock drives the barrel muzzle in a downward motion that the shooter has to compensate for. With the right hand lock mounted on the left side in reverse the rotation of the cock is into the wrist instead of the muzzle and is easier for shooter to control. I know it seems strange but it does work. These pistols are not allowed to be used in the traditional matches they can only be used in the open class matches.

[Chris Treichel]

As to the backward mounted lock... I have seen historical examples of backwards mounted locks (but on the correct side) so a lefty lock on the right side but backwards. Let me see if I can find some examples as they are quite interesting.

[Scota4570]

It moves the trigger forward.  That means a saw handled pistol can be made.  That gives a longer sight radius and longer barrel in the same overall length.   

[rjpalmer]

Thanks to everyone for their replies to my question. I have a better understanding of what appeared to me to be a very odd configuration for a flintlock pistol. I'm glad there are shooters that enjoy shooting in general and flintlocks in particular. Thanks.

[Clowdis]

As stated above, on the sawhandle design the barrel is moved so far back that the lock has to be placed backwards in order to get the sear over the trigger. In other words the touch hole is way behind the trigger so things have to be reversed.

[jerrywh]

 The guy who built it was a new guy and never knew any better? or - no directions came with the parts.

[L. Akers]

Wobblyshot has it right.   Moving the barrel back and mounting the lock backward has nothing to do with being able to make a sawhandle stock.  I have made sawhandle stocked pistols with the lock and barrel in their normal configuration with the lock and barrel in front of the trigger.  Moving the barrel back and mounting the lock backward is done for balance--period.  This design mandates a sawhandle stock as the only option.

[JCKelly]

All above sounds good & is probably true.

I recall about 1969 seeing at least one of these upside down & backwards flint pistols whilst shooting at Old Westmoreland Rifles, south of Pittsburgh, PA.

Got a friend from work interested, he normally shot 1911's. He bought whatever Italian percussion pistol was available at that time, with a zillion shallow grooves in it. Cast his balls of soft lead just like we all know is correct. Very poor accuracy. Being a .45ACP shooter, therefore too dumb to know better, he cast some bullets of hard lead, just like used in his .45. @!*%. Them there too hard balls, patched, took that shallow rifling.

Accuracy improved. Enough so, that being an accomplished .45 shooter, he beat $#*! out of the upside-down & backwards flint pistol. Don't recall whether they were ever happy to see him at a pistol match after that.

Upside-down & backwards is probably very good.
Practice is better.
Try honing your skills with an air pistol (rifled) in your basement at either 25 feet or 10 meters. Very humbling experience. Great practice, though, inexpensive & convenient.

[Daryl]

Wobblyshot has it right.   Moving the barrel back and mounting the lock backward has nothing to do with being able to make a sawhandle stock.  I have made sawhandle stocked pistols with the lock and barrel in their normal configuration with the lock and barrel in front of the trigger.  Moving the barrel back and mounting the lock backward is done for balance--period.  This design mandates a sawhandle stock as the only option.

Taylor made such a saw-handled (French Style) pistol for a local chap - he (or his son) become almost impossible to beat when shooting that pistol.  Seems to work for them - forward lock and a cap at that.