help identifying a pair of old flintlock pistols

[pbrowning]

I was at an estate sale this weekend and the gentleman was a collector of older flintlocks and percussion cap rifles and pistols. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify this pair of pistols or point me in the right direction.

The first pistol is around 24" long, and has a bigger bore than the smaller more ornate one. I cant really make out what the markings across the top are, even under a magnifying glass.

 

[pbrowning]

Few more of the first pistol

 

[pbrowning]

last ones of the first pistol

Now here is the smaller of the pair. Its shorter, around 16". Regretably the plate on the backside looks new.

 

[rabjr]

Top one looks French military?

 

[wallgunner]

I say both are Medd or Arabic in origin. The stock style and profile of the butts give it away to me. I can't place a date on them cause they made them for a long time, probably still do somewhere :hmm: . A guess late 18th to end of 19th century. If you look at antique gun shows or even antique stores in general you can find them. They don't seem to be as collectable as other flintlocks because they don't have a history tied to us. Unless they are of really fine quality or have special identifying marks on them, I don't think they are usually worth all that much.

 

[Zonie]

Most likely Mediterranean or Middle Eastern based on the shapes of the grips.

zonie

 

[Wes/Tex]

Agree, both appear to be Mediterranean origin with surplus European locks & barrels. A lot of Napoleonic era gun parts were traded out to that area and Africa during the mid-19th century.

 

[robinghewitt]

Now here is the smaller of the pair. Its shorter, around 16". Regretably the plate on the backside looks new.

I think I've got one of them, the verdict was Levantine :thumbsup:

Half the backplate is missing, perhaps they weren't very well made.

PS: I think yours may have been sawn off in front of the first band :shocked2:

 

[TFoley]

I have to say, as a handworker in metal, although not a gunmaker - I build live-steam locomotives and have done since the late 1960's - that the entire action, in particular the frizzen, of the second pistol appears to be cast.

and therefore probably not more than 25 years old...

My $0.02.

tac in Tokyo