belgium made flintlock

[stilts1933]

Howdy all , I just aquired a belgium made 54 cal flintlock pistol . Looks like a Harpers Ferry pistol with Centenial on barrel top with Virginia on lock plate with a date , behind the tang it has a sailing tall ship engraved in the wood .Said his dad had it in the 70's . How were these for quality and shootability ? . Looks like much better quality than japanese tower pistols . Thanks Dan

 

[Zonie]

Centennial Arms Corp. was started back in the 1950's and sold several different guns, most of them made in Belgium.

The 1860 Colt Army they made has almost a cult following and I believe all of the guns they made were of high quality.

Your gun seems to be the HARPERS FERRY, a copy of the 1805 US military flintlock.
It came with a rifled .54 caliber barrel and the gun was 16" long. It was finished with the barrel in the white and had polished brass furniture.

 

[arcticap]

I came across photos of one from a Dec., 2010 auction in Dallas.
It's a very nice looking gun.
Click on the "view more photos" link:
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/centennial-arms-reproduction-of-harpers-ferry-m18-1-c-faa5b1bee1

 

[hawkeye2]

It may be a copy of the Virginia Manafactoury pistol which is a copy of the Harper's Ferry with a few minor differences including a captive rammer. Possibly the carved sailing ship was done later.

 

[stilts1933]

Howdy all , it has the captive ram rod that swings down like on some horse pistols so you dont loose it. On the tail of the lock it says Richmond and Virginia in front of hammer .I just recieved a reply listing it as a Confederate version of the Harpers ferry pistol and listed a 1967 ad with the price at $69.95 . Seems like a lot of money for 1967 . Got to get some time to wring it out . Thanks Dan