Lewis Barbar holster pistol.

[Pukka Bundook]

Morning Gents,
 Finally got around to taking some photos of a holster pistol by Lewis Barbar.

 It belonged to my late Bro-in -law. He picked it up at a sale in Stockton (On Tees) in about 1970 or '71.

 It is rather plain, but elegant in its own way and handles beautifully! Has an 8-inch barrel of 22 bore or thereabouts.

 You will notice the nice clear proofs and makers mark, and the trigger off-set to the right.

 As and when, I will dismount the lock and barrel for photos, but there are not really any marks to see, just the lock -work, and mortise.

 Although Lewis came to London from France in 1688, he was not naturalized until 1700, and was not a free member of the Gunmaker's Company until 1704, so this piece has to have been made after that.

 By the style and rammer pipes, I would think possibly first decade of 18th C??  but I am open to ideas on this!  Lewis died in 1741 if I remember correctly.

 Can anyone tell me how the buttcap is attached, as there is no screw?  Years ago, something fairly heavy used to rattle under the cap, and I always wanted to pry it off and have a look!  Rob wouldn't stand for that though. 

 Now, there is no rattle, so I do not know if he did something to it or what.

 Any comments/insights most welcome.




























You can see a working repair to the stock, quite common!

Best,
Richard.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Hi Richard.  The butt cap's long ears are likely about 1/8" thick, with a spike filed into the tips.  The spikes slip under the wood at their ends as the cap is tapped home, forcing them tightly into their inlet.  The butt has a separate cap, commonly with a spike with teeth, that when tapped into an undersized hole, seat the cap, and never back out.  Other's have a screw (yours does not) as in the grotesque mask caps on European pistols, commonly passing through the mouth of the grotesque.  I cannot comment on what may have been loose inside the cap causing the rattling.

[James Rogers]

The butt cap straps are held under the wood at the tips. The metal is half thickness and slips under the surface. My guess is that this cap has the finial end cap that uses a flat tab that goes in from the bottom of the cap and is secured with a screw under the trigger guard back strap.

[Dave B]

Heres a picture of whats under neath your pistol butt cap

[James Rogers]

Yes,  that's what I was feebly attempting to.describe ; )

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It surprises me that the entire butt cap is not filled with wood!  There ya go!!

[Hudnut]

45 years ago I was looking at a rifle being stocked up.  The maker was using soot, and bedding the end of the butt into the hollow of the buttplate. 

[Pukka Bundook]

Hudnut,

I didn't know there was another way of doing it until I saw American stocking up! LOL!
Always made sure the buttplate was filled with wood myself.

Thanks for the description and photos of how the buttcap fits, Dave B and all.
Never had one apart so did not know!

Much appreciated,
Richard.

[n stephenson]

Richard and Dave , thanks for posting your pics. I just really love seeing originals , nothing else like them. I wished we knew the story behind the wrist repair , it`s cool .   Nate

[JV Puleo]

That is a very nice pistol. I have a soft spot for iron or steel mounts... they are very unappreciated. In some cases they were more expensive than silver and always more so than brass. They were also the choice for an arm (sword, pistol etc) that was intended to be actively used.

[Pukka Bundook]

Nate,

I'm very pleased you like it!

Joe,
Thanks for the information about iron mounted.  Nowadays we tend to think iron as the  more common working material, but iron Was harder to work in the 18th C.

Do you have an idea of when this pistol was made?    Between 1704  and 1740 obviously, but any closer ideas yourself?
I feel by the mounts and off-set trigger that Maybe in the first decade or so,  but am only guessing.  ....I was wrong once before!  :-)

Thanks to all again for looking.

R.

[Mike Brooks]

Do you have an idea of when this pistol was made?    Between 1704  and 1740 obviously, but any closer ideas yourself?
I feel by the mounts and off-set trigger that Maybe in the first decade or so,  but am only guessing.  ....I was wrong once before!  :-)

I'd say the earlier side of those dates rather than the later..,.. probably earlier than 1720 anyway. Quite a treasure there.

[JV Puleo]

I'm agreeing with Mike on the approximate dates. This is actually a little late for iron (or steel) mounted London pistols. There was a good article on this subject by David Weaver in the ASAC bulletin. If I remember it correctly, David posits that brass mounts came in when the London makers started buying the mountings from the trade. If you haven't got access to this, let me know and I'll copy it for yo.

jp

[Mike Brooks]

I'm agree with Mike on the approximate dates. This is actually a little late for iron (or steel) mounted London pistols. There was a good article on this subject by David Weaver in the ASAC bulletin. If I remember it correctly, David posits that brass mounts came in when the London makers started buying the mountings from the trade. If you haven't got access to this, let me know and I'll copy it for yo.

jp

Oh Golly, I'd like a copy of that bulletin!

[Pukka Bundook]

Thank you both for your help with this, and Joe, I second Mike and would Love a copy of the bulletin!!

It seems we all think about the same on the old pistol, and pleased you like it.

R.

[JV Puleo]

I will copy the article... we only have one copy of the bulletin. If you don't hear from in a few days, don't hesitate to remind me.

jp

I've emailed a pdf directly. As the article is copyrighted, I do not want to post it but a copy made for personal research falls under the "fair use" portion of the copyright law.