Unknown Percussion

Howdy, I've recently picked up a percussion pistol that is void of any makers marks or stamped with anything other than a serial number. The serial number is 027586. Any help would be much appreciated.

I would guess it’s a Spainish made replica made in the 60s or 70s. Check under the barrel for proof marks.

I was able to find "Spain" stamped on the inside of the lock but I was unable to remove the barrel.

I think most of these were sold under the names Jukar and/or CVA. Someone else may have imported that one, it is hard to say, but it is the same; and it is a Spanish made replica from the '60s-'70s as stated above. They were sold as both kits and completed pistols.

If I haven't already said it, welcome to the forum.

Your pistol is either a "English Percussion Belt Pistol" Dixie Gunworks # PP201 ($49.95),or a "Standard Percussion Pistol Kit" built by someone.
The Kit is Dixie Gunworks KA704 ($29.95).

Both of these Dixie Gunworks numbers and prices came from the 1980 catalog.

The current value today is higher but probably not over $120 if the bore is in good condition.

Because this area of the forum is for identification of antique firearms, not modern replicas of them, I'm moving it to the Handguns area of the forum.

I have a pistol that appears to be the same as yours except it is a flintlock. It is 45 caliber. I would guess mine was built from a kit based on the construction. It actually shoot pretty well. I would guess it was marketed by CVA or one of the other venders previously mentioned. Mine does not appear to have been fired much. There are no external markings and I've not ever pulled the barrel.

This pistol is a .45 also. How much powder do you load it with? The primary reason for attempting to find the model and make is so I could find out the proper loads.

That same Dixie Gunworks catalog does not mention a factory made flintlock pistol but it does show a flintlock in kit form for sale at $35.95.
That $29.95 for the percussion kit in 1980 would be $95.85 today.
$35.95 in 1980 would be $115.05 today.

Tyler25

You should load your pistol with a .440 diameter lead ball patched with a tight weave cotton cloth that is about .010 (ten thousandths) of an inch thick.
Lubricate the patch lightly with a factory made patch lube or you can use any vegitable oil.

The powder can be either real black powder or one of the modern synthetic black powders like Pyrodex or Triple Seven.

Use anywhere from 20 grains to 35 grains of powder.
A empty .30 carbine cartridge will hold about 20 grains, a .38 Special will hold 23 grains, a .357 Mag case will hold 27 grains and a .44 Colt will hold about 35 grains.

Be sure the patched ball is rammed down against the powder.

A #10 or #11 percussion cap should work.

Have fun. :grin:

Woohoo! Thanks for all the info. Really great stuff. I was finally able to remove the barrel and the only other marking aside from the serial number was "Spain" stamped on the underneath.

I have that exact same model pistol, hanging on a wall. I built it from a kit, probably 1969 or 70. It was sold as Jukar and CVA. It think it might have been maybe $19.95 then. I think it was also called a colonial belt pistol. It was a Christmas present, and it came from Dixie Gun Works.

I shoot about 27 grains as I have a flask that throws that amount. I don't load directly from the flask into the barrel, but pour it into a empty cartridge case that I've picked up at the range. I've not shot it enough to really sight it in. The front sight seems to be too short and probably needs to have a taller one to shoot to point of aim. It is a cute pistol and I really need to shoot it more.

Dixie and CVA both sold variations on that gun. Sometime about 1979 or 1980, CVA switched over to having guns made at Ardesa with a drum and nipple instead of the bolster. So If it is a CVA import, it predates 1979. Other companies imported similar guns from Jukar. Replica Arms and others. The fancy stamped design border around the lock is a little fancier than CVA sold except for the first year or two. It is most likely made by Jukar, but the importer may never be known.

A quick question folks. In looking at the pictures here of the rear sight, is it in correctly or backwards? Mine is installed the same way.

IMO, the rear sight is installed backwards.

The small sight notch should be at the rear and the widened or splayed opening should be towards the front sight.

That is what I thought too, but wanted another opinion. I'm going to tap the one on mine out and reverse it. It isn't the first kit gun that I bought used that had the sight in that way. I always put them in as you suggest.

I have two just like it. I never knew the exact name either until I recently purchased my second one as a kit still in the box. Now I have a flint model and a cap lock. It's a CVA Trapper pistol. The name doesn't mean much though because so many companies bought these often naming them whatever they wanted to call it. Even CVA would make tiny little changes and give it a new name. More so in more recent years when they still sold them.

My rear sight is on the same way also.

Mine has Spain and Jukar marked on the barrel but very lightly. It could easily be sanded or filed off which some people do on purpose to make it look more nostalgic. 15 or 20 grains would be a good load. You could actually load more but you would just be wasting powder.