Anybody recognize this pistol?

I just recieved this pistol, not sure what to make of it. It's pretty crude. Not sure if its a non firing replica or a poorly built kit gun my grandpa picked up at a gun show.


The lock itself functions fairly well although cruddy. The Barrel is brass and tapered from breech to muzzle (smooth bore, measures at .60) Breech plug is steel.

The only markings are "Tower" and "Sharpe" on the lock and the various proof marks on the barrel.

any help would be appreciated, i'd like to make a little smoke with it, if nothing else

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Just a guess, but with the brass barrel, it could be some type of sea service pistol. :idunno:

Proof marks aren't clear in your pics but do look correct for Britain and from the early 1800's if my memory is right.I would suspect it's a self defense piece of some sort (overcoat or travelers pistol perhaps). The brass barrel could indicate it was intended for sea service but brass barreled guns were sold in the general gun trade so it's hard to say for sure.

You have what looks to be a (London) Sharpe Model 1760 pistol used by the military.

British ship's Captain's & officers purchased them as personal weapons for a line of defense during ship-boarding attempts, etc.

It should take a .550" ball.
https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=904

heres a little better picture of the barrels markings, still not very crisp

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The marks are similar to the proof-marks from Birmingham Gunmakers' Proof House.
It wasn't unusual for two slightly different marks to be made on the barrel when it was proof tested.

I say similar because the crown at the top of the marks in the photo are not very distinctive.

With a well struck mark there is little doubt that there is a crown on these stamps.

I believe this to be a Sharpe pistol built for trade. The lock internals are too crude for an officers or Gentleman’s pistol . I believe Sharpe was involved quite heavily in the trade.

Can the piece be discharged with safetety?

I am not certain but it looks like it could be a kit like my great great great great grampa built. CVA I believe (but the were not incorporated back then). Parts will be hard to come by :shocked2:

:rotf: :blah: Sorry....Nice piece. I'd try 10 grains and see what happened if it was mine.

Thanks for all the help guys I"ve got it apart right now cleaning things up. lock is apart and soaking in oil. barrel is in pretty good shape other than the various dings all over. the stock however is quite dry and has a few cracks throughout the lock and barrel inlet's

Any tips on aging a hickory ramrod? I've got a blank on the way, I'd like for it to be a decent match

I have not seen any need to stain a ramrod. Rods were broken and replaced all the time. I personally prefer the contrast between the stain of the stock and the lighter color of a hickory ramrod. Use is the staining process that I think is best.

There are some highly decorated and carved long rifles that look good with a candy striped ramrod.

Any tips on aging a hickory ramrod?

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Just use it.
My first impression, and just a guesstimate, is the pistol is a combo of different parts. The barrel could be and olde original put onto an import kit like a CVA. No matter, if it can be used safely, enjoy.

Driftingrz said:

Any tips on aging a hickory ramrod?

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I age all my new wooden RR's in new/clean kerosene (inside a capped length of 1/2" ID PVC pipe from HomeCheapo) for at least a month.

I've never had one so treated break or snap, ever.

Thats why i thought kit originally. It looked like a cobbled together kit gun, with the poor inletting. If I could figure out if that's the case I'd like to try restocking it.

I don't see anything to indicate this was a kit gun including having never seen a kit or production gun like it over nearly 40 years. Poor inletting could be the result of indifferent inletting during the build and and 180 years of changes due to the moisture content of the wood (mostly shrinking).

I think Zonie is correct those are "View" and "Proof" marks from Birmingham.

I am a bit surprised it has a bridle on the pan, but no bridle on the tumbler? The Sear face was obviously designed for rough use.

To me, it looks like a lower quality gun made for the Slave Trade Ships.

Gus

While far from an expert in British arms, I agree with Simon. This looks like one of the many common trade/export pistols from about the first quarter of the 19th Century. You see them with both brass and iron (more often) barrels. In fact, I think there are one or two of these currently for sale at TOTW. You do see them quite often, so there must have been a large quantity built and exported over the years.

Rick

I've cleaned the layer of filth off the gun, and soaked the lock parts in oil for a few days. and it cleaned up fairly well. everything moves freely now without all the gunk. Lock sparks surprisingly well, although the face of the frizzen is still pretty rough, also went ahead and whittled a hickory ramrod for it

Any experienced smoothbore shooters have any recommendations on a load? I was thinking either a thicker greased patch with .530 balls, or just bare ball with the .575 balls I have, they are just undersized enough to roll down the bore with help of a rammer? I will be sticking with light charges and poking holes in paper


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That is an awesome original pistol ! You should be Very Proud to own it ......I would not live fire tho....just ADMIRE it for what it is.....no need to risk damage to a brass barrel of such age.....