Howdah-do?

[Centurion]

Good morning!

Just can’t get Michael Douglas’ double barrelled howdah pistol out of my mind. I found two on the internet - a Pedersoli for $1000 and a Lancaster for $13,000.

So has anyone built one of these out of a 20 ga percussion side-by- side? I think that depending on the condition of the weapon it shout take a patched round ball within certain perameters.

Asking for myself.

don

 

[mckaylodge]

Hi,

I didn't build a Pedersoli Howdah 20/20 (like from a kit), but I tore down my new one as soon as I got it out of its case after delivery and refinished the steel and wood to my liking. It ain't yours till you mess with it. I should have bought a kit (if one is available - I didn't look. Then built a storage box for it and its acoutrements. This is posted with pictures elsewhere.

 

[Centurion]

Yeah, the kit is available, but pricey. I’d like to see your pictures if possible.

Another option is to cut down cheaper left and right handed rifle barrels and solder them together - i don’t know if a rib would be necessary. You’d need to custom build the stock and inlet for the locks, etc. but i think you’d come in well under Pedersoli’s $700 tag.

don

 

[Centurion]

That’s a lot of messin’, but boy, would it be yours!!

 

[William Lincoln]

The 20 gage takes a 60 cal ball. They are not cheap but you could not get a better
home defense gun to rebuff a home invader when loaded with 2ought Buck shot. There
is a 12 gage non historical version out with 209 primer ignition. Stay with the Howdah.
Sawed-off shotguns are illegal or send a villainous message. The Howdah is exempted
due to being a replica of an antique shikari gun used in Colonial India. Save up, wait a
bit longer and get the real antique based gun kit for quality and legal reasons. You will
be lucky to find a kit today. They can be bought on credit as well. If you went to sell
it Pedersoli is a distinguished and trusted gun master maker. In life, we live with our
decisions, and what is good is often hard to get and costs more.

 

[mckaylodge]

You asked to see:
Here is my Pedersoli Howdah 20/20 after I removed the brown (Cerakote?), removed the satin varnish and finished the walnut with teak oil followed with Tru-Oil until glossy, and added ivory (imitation) to the grip.

 

[William Lincoln]

Awesome Job. Awesome pistol. A legacy item to be passed on down.
Wow thank you for posting a dream gun.

 

[nhmoose]

Sawed-off shotguns are illegal or send a villainous message.

Not true, legal under NFA rules and Tax payment. , some states do not allow but not illegal in free states.

As for the villainous it comes from watching to much boob-tube and being brain washed IMHO.

 

[William Lincoln]

To me Coach guns with a little longer barrel are just fine. Not all of us have
a need for "fire power" or NFA items. To each his own. Regards to you.

 

[ArtyGunner]

Love the little powder horn, a beauty.

 

[tenngun]

I have never dealt with Middlesex village trading company. I have heard many complaints about them and a few not unhappy with them. They sell a double howdah style and a flintlock double in .58 and .62

 

[Sam squanch]

you can have a sawed off MUZZLELOADING shotgun. Just not a breech loading one.

 

[Enfield58]

You asked to see:
Here is my Pedersoli Howdah 20/20 after I removed the brown (Cerakote?), removed the satin varnish and finished the walnut with teak oil followed with Tru-Oil until glossy, and added ivory (imitation) to the grip.
View attachment 62872
View attachment 62868
View attachment 62871

You're killing me Smalls!

I was doing a search on this forum to see if anyone has purchased the flintlock version of the Howdah. I have the percussion version and love it!

I have to go into a private room just to look at your pictures of your pistol.

I was wondering about the browning of the flintlock version. It sounds like it is painted on the barrels like there shotguns.

I thought the browning on my shotgun sucks and tried to re-brown it myself. It sucks just as bad but doesn't look like it was painted on.

Does it use touch hole liners or do they have a touch hole drilled into the side of the barrels.

 

[SOLANCO]

Yeah, the kit is available, but pricey. I’d like to see your pictures if possible.

Another option is to cut down cheaper left and right handed rifle barrels and solder them together - i don’t know if a rib would be necessary. You’d need to custom build the stock and inlet for the locks, etc. but i think you’d come in well under Pedersoli’s $700 tag.

don

Having a double gun, rifle or shotgun is more than just soldering the barrels together. They should be regulated. This may be less important in a Howdah pistol shooting tigers off of your elephant's back. But it would be nice if both barrels shot to the same point of impact at a specific distance.
https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/the-barrel-regulator

 

[user 48679]

Sawed-off shotguns are illegal or send a villainous message.

While sawed-off metallic cartridge shotguns are illegal if not licensed, AFAIK there's no such restrictions on muzzleloaders.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

I have owned several Pedersoli's, and built several from kits, such as their 16" barreled "Bounty" pistol. They are very well built, and generally very accurate. Many of them have rifling with 8 or more lands/grooves. Good, appropriate twist rates.
The first one i had was a .45 cal "Kentucky" long rifle. Never mind that the barrel is nowhere near the normal 40+" barrels used on traditional long rifles. Went to sight it in at my 100 yard range, 70 gr FFg, .440 PRB. First shot nicked the upper left edge of the X-ring, 2nd and 3rd made a three-leafed clover, and I decided I wouldn't mess with the sights. And the same turned out to be true of the others I've had.
And the company does try to satisfy their clients: i had a customer who was going to go on a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo hunt, wanted a "Quigley Down Under" type cartridge gun. Called up their USA rep, who gave me the email for the factory customer service, and ordered a blued, barreled action - and they supplied one within 6 weeks. .45-110, if i remember correctly. And the guy did get his buffalo.
I am not a big fan of "factory" ML's, greatly prefer handmade ones such as the ones I myself make. But they do have their place in our sport of muzzle-loading fun machines.

 

[Darkgael]

I have never dealt with Middlesex village trading company. I have heard many complaints about them and a few not unhappy with them. They sell a double howdah style and a flintlock double in .58 and .62

Some years ago, i picked up a 20 gauge “howdah” style pistol from Middlesex Village. It was affordable and a handsome looking gun. Gauge was closer to 18 than 20.
it had the worst trigger that I have ever tried to use. It had to have been nearly 30 pounds…..pretty much unshootable.
I have since fixed the locks. It is a handy little gun now, triggers at eight pounds.

 

[nhmoose]

To me Coach guns with a little longer barrel are just fine. Not all of us have
a need for "fire power" or NFA items.

You are a Fudd or anti to me. I also like NFA weapons and not on a need basis but on I want basis. So, regards to your Fudd basis from me.

 

[nhmoose]

you can have a sawed off MUZZLELOADING shotgun. Just not a breech loading one.

You may also have a modern one with a tax paid transfer if you live in a free state.