Percussion pistols

[jay a. helfert]

I have no idea the value of these three pistols my brother brought back from his time in Europe over fifty years ago. I do know they are 100% real guns, not replicas, probably close to 200 years old. They are complete and in the original condition I got them in after he passed away. They look similar but on closer inspection all have a different stock. Any help would be appreciated. TY

 

[jay a. helfert]

I have no idea the value of these three pistols my brother brought back from his time in Europe over fifty years ago. I do know they are 100% real guns, not replicas, probably close to 200 years old. They are complete and in the original condition I got them in after he passed away. They look similar but on closer inspection all have a different stock. Any help would be appreciated. TY

They are all double barrel with double triggers.

 

[ikeo1]

Clean your camera lens and take closer pictures on a better background

 

[jay a. helfert]

Ok. The barrrels are rusty but I don't want to use steel wool to clean them. I prefer to leave them as is for now. The stocks have some small cracks in the wood, but nothing major. All the hammers and triggers work and my best recollection is that my brother fired one of these gun a long time ago. He was like that. They do look their age.

 

[shroom]

Honestly could be worth nothing, could be worth something. I'm not familiar with percussion pistols but looking for makers marks/serial numbers/other identifying markings like proof marks would be a good start. Disassembly may be required.

I would make an account on gunboards and ask there, probably the biggest collectors forum on the internet.

 

[Atomic Soldier]

Makers marks and if you can measure the bore is your best bet in identifying them. I used an old collection of ammo I had to figure out bore diameter of one I had not too long ago. If there is no manufacturers marking, it's probably a common design. I have some .44 cal and 357 balls laying around as well as a couple pounds of powder and caps if you were anywhere near me but I'm guessing it's probably.31-.34 caliber

 

[RustyIron]

They appear to be very crudely made--crude to the point that I even wonder if they were made by a real gunmaker. They look more like a souvenir trinket than something that was made for actual use.

 

[jay a. helfert]

They appear to be very crudely made--crude to the point that I even wonder if they were made by a real gunmaker. They look more like a souvenir trinket than something that was made for actual use.

Definitely not trinkets. These are heavy little pieces made from sturdy metal, probably steel. There are some markings and design on them as well. So far I can't find a name. Large bore barrels.

 

[RustyIron]

Definitely not trinkets. These are heavy little pieces made from sturdy metal, probably steel. There are some markings and design on them as well. So far I can't find a name. Large bore barrels.

People don't like to hear the truth about their cherished treasures.
I could be mistaken. It's happened before. Good luck.

 

[H. Bowman]

They look sort of chintzy to me but they could be real. If there are holes drilled in the nipple which would allow flame to pass from cap to powder in the barrel, I'd bet they're real.

Very cool!

 

[Atomic Soldier]

I'm sure they're real and functional. You would be surprised what can safely be made to shoot black powder. Look at the Afghan muzzleloader rifles. Provinonce and value are subjective. You should scour websites such as GunBroker and others in their black powder section to get a better idea of what you have. Perhaps Google black powder double barrel pistol. That's how I found out what I had, which was a copy of an over under derringer that swiveled.

 

[sass2924]

Original Spanish 11mm Pinfire Double Barrel Pistol by Francisco Arizaga of Eibar with Hidden Triggers - circa 1870

Original item. Only One Available. This is a very nice French style double barrel pinfire pistol, which in this case was made in the 1870s in Eibar, a major gunmaking region of Spain. The "NEW" French "Pinfire" cartridge had been recently introduced, which featured a pin extending from the rear...

www.ima-usa.com

Probably $100-$200 o the right person. More of a wall hanger, won't be shooting it much since it's a pinfire.

 

[Atomic Soldier]

Rig one up with a nipple and make it percussion! If people could do it decades ago, you should be able to do it with ease.

 

[jay a. helfert]

Original Spanish 11mm Pinfire Double Barrel Pistol by Francisco Arizaga of Eibar with Hidden Triggers - circa 1870

Original item. Only One Available. This is a very nice French style double barrel pinfire pistol, which in this case was made in the 1870s in Eibar, a major gunmaking region of Spain. The "NEW" French "Pinfire" cartridge had been recently introduced, which featured a pin extending from the rear...

www.ima-usa.com

Probably $100-$200 o the right person. More of a wall hanger, won't be shooting it much since it's a pinfire.

Bingo, that's it, the same gun. An expert was kind enough to take a look at them yesterday. They are real pinfire pistols, "gentlemens" guns he called them. They can predate percussion guns. .41-.44 Caliber. He looked for any descriptive markings of the more well known makers of the era (150-200 years ago) and could find none. Nevetheless he said they were good examples of the "pocket" guns of that era. He did not price them.