James Lowe 1740 Pistols. Shootable?

[pipascus]

Hello!
I know someone who has a set of pistols from 1740. He wants to know if it's OK to shoot them, load, special loading procedure (?) etc.
Can someone help with this?
Thank you.
Here are a couple of photos...

 

[2 shots]

why???

 

[pipascus]

why???

Because he wants to shoot them.

 

[CaptainVane]

I sure would NOT. There was no proofing far as I know in 1740 and i like my hands where god put them.
Tell him buy a proofed safe pistol.

 

[64Springer]

Guns are made to shoot.

Load those suckers up and squeeze.

Just clean really really REALLY well and oil afterwards.

 

[64Springer]

I sure would NOT. There was no proofing far as I know in 1740 and i like my hands where god put them.
Tell him buy a proofed safe pistol.

30 grains of powder will not turn those pistols into hand grenades.

Proof or No Proof.

Geeze!

 

[64Springer]

OP.

What caliber are those pistols?

Barrel O.D. at the breech?

 

[CaptainVane]

30 grains of powder will not turn those pistols into hand grenades.

Proof or No Proof.

Geeze!

I’ll hold your beer while you go first.

 

[64Springer]

I’ll hold your beer while you go first.

You're spinning internet yarns and urban legend falsehoods.

The cylinder wall thickness on your Proofed reproduction revolver measures .080 inches give or take.

Are you going to sit here in front of God and everyone and say an Un-Proofed barrel with a wall thickness twice or three times greater than your revolver is unsafe to shoot? Do you honestly believe the craftsman that built those pistols built them to fail when the trigger got pulled?

The OP wants to shoot these pistols.

Speculation and planting unwarranted seeds of fear is not helpful.

 

[2 shots]

old guns are like old women . best to let them be.

 

[64Springer]

old guns are like old women . best to let them be.

Why? The old girls need lov'in too.

If a firearm is mechanically sound, it's shootable.

And they appear to be in excellent condition.

 

[William Hagewood]

Hello!
I know someone who has a set of pistols from 1740. He wants to know if it's OK to shoot them, load, special loading procedure (?) etc.
Can someone help with this?
Thank you.
Here are a couple of photos...

View attachment 233902View attachment 233903

If you are cautious like me, have a qualified gunsmith who specializes in BP check it out first

 

[pipascus]

Interesting.
I understand the caution, but like others have said-those guns were made to be shot. True, they are not nearly as strong as modern reproductions, but it seems to me that staying within, preferably below, loads of the era in which they were manufactured would be safe.
Still, I am no gunsmith, so the idea of taking them to a gunsmith seems sound.

 

[64Springer]

Interesting.
I understand the caution, but like others have said-those guns were made to be shot. True, they are not nearly as strong as modern reproductions, but it seems to me that staying within, preferably below, loads of the era in which they were manufactured would be safe.
Still, I am no gunsmith, so the idea of taking them to a gunsmith seems sound.

They're in exceptional condition.

I wouldn't hesitate to load them and shoot them.

And finding a gunsmith that can speak to the soundness of mid 18th screw on barrel flintlock pistols may prove difficult.

 

[TFoley]

English gun proofs, in the London Proof House, began much earlier than the dom of these pistols.

		These are the final black powder proof marks. The London mark was in use since 1672 in this or similar form. The Birmingham mark was valid from 1813-1904. Since 1925 the London mark was used on semi-smokeless as final proofs for shotguns with the "NP" mark in conjunction.
		Inspection mark, London - since 1672. Birmingham - since 1812-1904.

 

[SDSmlf]

Hello!
I know someone who has a set of pistols from 1740. He wants to know if it's OK to shoot them, load, special loading procedure (?) etc.
Can someone help with this?
Thank you.
Here are a couple of photos...

View attachment 233902View attachment 233903

Consulting with a qualified gunsmith is a good option if you are unsure of what you have. The condition of the pair looks very good, but hard to tell much for sure without brighter detailed photographs.

I would want to confirm that there are no cracks or defects in the metal and that the barrels are snug when threaded into place. I would also confirm the locks hold when cocked and see how they spark. Then if I wanted to shoot them, I would probably load with no more that 15 grains of powder.

 

[andy52]

Dang dude and a set of original queen ann pistols, I might not shoot them but I'd be carrying them in chest-mounted holsters like Edward Teach at the next reenactment.

 

[pipascus]

Great input from all. Thanks.
Never been a fan of the big flintlock pistols, but always loved this style because they are slim and elegant.

 

[Sam squanch]

old guns are like old women . best to let them be.

Unless they are a RICH widow!

 

[Sam squanch]

Don’t mess with them! I’m sure they are safe with a light load- but what if something breaks? You just lost $$ in collects value. Plenty of reproductions to shoot….