Underside of a dragoon buttcap

[mountainman]

I am getting close to finishing this pistol I was working on, but I'm having a little difficulty on knowing how to finish this cap's appearance, I don't believe it was meant to have a retainer cap since there was only a hole in the center for the screw (not an offset hole and no slot for the tang) I did engrave a single molding line around the edge on the side of the wood; do I need to shape up to the butt cap around the center screw, or do I engrave around the screw, just trying to find some simple ideas, ( definitely not into relief engravings ) just want something with clean lines.
I know I should have done more research, but is there a book on pistols especially of those French or English styles or maybe even American?
Or can there still be a retainer cap used in this project?
Any ideas? Just want to keep it simple, I don't mind a little engraving if it helps it any...

[mountainman]

Here is a picture of my butt cap.

[smart dog]

Hi,
What is the pistol supposed to be?   Model 1733 French dragoon?  Pattern 1730 or 1738 English land service pistol?  The English pistols just have a screw in the end holding on the cap and visible.  The French pistols usually have a screw cap cover requiring the tab and hidden screw from under the trigger guard.  For your purpose, George Neumann's "Battle Weapons of the American Revolution" might be a good choice because it covers British and French arms.  For British arms, Bailey's "Pattern Dates for British Ordnance Small Arms" is the best choice. Also there are usually examples of originals online but you need to know what style or model you are making.

dave

[mountainman]

Hi Dave,
With a round face lock, and oct. to round barrel, and a acorn trigger guard I would think more English.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Absolutely.

dave

[mountainman]

So as an English pistol would you leave the flat around the screw as is, or does that have to be reshaped?

[smart dog]

Hi Mountainman,
First, make the pistol as you please.  It is yours after all.  My comments are meaningful if your intent is to make a gun that is historically accurate for whatever it is supposed to represent.  To better answer your question, I need to see photos of the barrel, lock, and trigger guard.  Then I can try and place the gun historically and advise you.

dave 

[mountainman]

The customer had me personalized it for him in engravings, because of that it's not going to be historically accurate, but this is before any engravings was done.














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[mountainman]

And even in spite of engravings, It still could be inaccurate.

[jgraham1]

Really nice work on that pistol.

Jerry

[Bob Gerard]

Oh yeah! 

[smart dog]

Hi,
Thanks for the photos.  It is not a military pistol.  It does not match any British issued cavalry or dragoon pistols.  What you are making is a civilian horse pistol or perhaps a privately purchased officer's pistol (again not government issue).  In that case, ideally you would have a screw cap over the screw head.  At this point, I am not sure you could do that so I suggest just try to shape the flat area a bit more rounded up to the screw and leave it at that. This is essentially what you are making:
 


















dave

[mountainman]

Hi Dave,
Wow! Nice pistol you made there! Very Beautiful!
Thanks for that clarification of what I'm making, and I like it! I heard of that phrase before but I didn't understand the content of it, I think I'm getting the picture, Military has it's own standard, and they kept it simple and yet nice, anything different in the way it was made is not military! Same as the Brown Bess or Charlesville.  A civilian can do as he please, If he want some things a little different to his liking he can go for it. Then again maybe I'm wrong..

[smart dog]

Hi Mountainman,
What it was is the British government did not necessarily supply firearms to its officers.  For the longest time officers were discouraged from carrying fusils or carbines because leadership believed they should concentrate on leading their men not loading and shooting.  When they were allowed to carry, they had to purchase their arms privately.  The government was not going to issue officers arms. In the case of dragoons and cavalry, the enlisted men were issued standard military carbines and pistols, but the officers bought their own. They paid for their commissions so were expected to have the financial means to buy their own firearms.

dave

[mountainman]

That is very interesting! Now I understand those terms like officer's fusil and pistols and why it was different than the standard military weapons.

[mountainman]

Really nice work on that pistol.

Jerry

Thanks!

[Dave B]

If you want to see Georgain pistols the Book "Georgian pistols: The art and craft of the flintlock pistol, 1715-1840
by Norman Dixon  is a great source for seeing the various variations of what was being done durring that time period. Amazon has several copy's listed. You have a very nice pistol going there well done on bring it  thus far. I look forward to your posting it when finished.

[mountainman]

So here is what I've done to the underside of this butt cap, without having a retainer cap which would have been ideal to have one.
So now I know for the next one.

[Rolf]

Good looking pistol. I like the clean, crisp engraving.

Best regards
Rolf

[alyce-james]

Very nice pistol and workmanship. I like the engraving quality. The power well be very happy with the pistol at his side. Thanks for sharing. Have a very Marry Christmas. AJ.

[JTR]

Very nicely done!

[LynnC]

Far better work than I can do. Just a thought. Perhaps a final touch could be a starburst on the screw head to further disguise it. You certainly have the ability. Well done sir.

[Daryl]

So here is what I've done to the underside of this butt cap, without having a retainer cap which would have been ideal to have one.
So now I know for the next one.

Nicely finished/completed, mountainman Dave. That looks just SUPER!!!!

[Steeltrap]

I certainly understand "historically correct" for these firearms. OTOH, individuals likely had or did their own "embellishments" to such "factory" firearms to fit their own wants\needs.