Hi E. Smith,
No one makes the right lock or trigger guard for English dueling pistols. Perhaps you might have more luck with continental pistols but then there is no good pistol lock. For barrels, Ed Rayl makes a nice swamped 10" pistol barrel that works for dueling pistols made during 1775-1795 or so. Later the barrels were heavier and generally just tapered. I don't know anyone who makes a tapered octagon pistol barrel but you could certainly taper it by hand. For true historical accuracy, the barrels should be smooth bore. Ed Rayl's are rifled. None of the commercial locks are right even the "Bailes" or "Small Manton" lock by L&R. They are all too big and the only small one (Becky's) is too small and not shaped right. If you don't make your own lock from scratch you have to get cast parts from Dyson, Blackley's, or TRS. TRS does not really have a good lock without inappropriate cast in engraving so it is Dyson's or Blackleys. Unfortunately, Blackley's has become as unreliable as TRS lately so thing are even more limited. The only pistol trigger guards available are all too small and you are very limited with steel ones, which is the only correct material for the guards except for a few rare pistols mounted in silver. Davis makes a new single set trigger that is pretty close to the original hair triggers used on duelers. As I previously mentioned, steel is the common material for all the mounts, not brass, or German silver. Occasionally silver was used. The mounts should have an almost glassy transparent bluing or be color-cased. Most pistols had bolted locks (locks with sliding safeties) but not all. The pair in the British Royal collection upon which I based mine above did not have bolts. All duelers have hook tangs and breeches (standing breeches as they are properly called) and front and rear sights. The rear sight is often a wide "U" to facilitate snap shooting because you were not supposed to take deliberate aim. English walnut stocks are full stocked until the 1790s and then half stocked pistols with a metal rib began to become fashionable. As the fashion changed in the early 19th century, barrels became heavier with less taper or swamp and often a spur was attached to the trigger guard to help offset the muzzle weight. Earlier, barrels were swamped octagons and the pistols full stocked, much lighter and better balanced. I personally do not like the feel of typical English dueling pistols from the 19th century including those made by the great gunsmith, Joe Manton. In my opinion, no one made better pistols than John Twigg, John Manton, and Robert Wogdon.
dave
