Pedersoli .58cal Harpers Ferry Flintlock Pistol

[Leadball loader]

At the recent fall encampment I attended I got to shoot a flintlock pistol and became interested in doing some shooting with one of my own.
When I got home my son told me about a gun for sale in a nearby town and I am now in possession of a .58cal Pedersoli 1807 flintlock pistol. It is most likely a kit gun but not badly done though I had to do some tinkering.
Do any members shoot this style of hand gun?
LBL

 

[Leadball loader]

This is my new pistol!

 

[cjbrown_2000]

I put together a kit last winter. I haven't shot it yet, but like the gun.

 

[JeffG]

Very nice!

 

[Leadball loader]

I neglected to add the fact that the pistol is a Navy Arms which may mean it is not a kit gun. Did Navy Arms sell kits as well as finished guns?
After looking at the large stamped lettering on newer guns you have to look hard to find the limited stamping on this gun. I like the looks of less stamping and it does not state the caliber as far as I can see. The Pedersoli stamp on the tang is very small and faint.
LBL

 

[Kansas Jake]

Navy arms sold some of their guns as kits too. I put together a 1858 Remington revolver kit 40 years ago that I got from them.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

When I had a 1803 rifle, I wanted one. Changed to 45 cal, and went with a Queen Anne.
A lot of MP friends had them.

 

[Leadball loader]

I have found the pistol I have has a definite problem making sparks. It is not showering at all at times and making only random sparks when it makes them at all.
Tried new flints and angling the flint in the cock. Will have to do more experimenting to find the fix.
LBL

 

[Pete G]

I have found the pistol I have has a definite problem making sparks. It is not showering at all at times and making only random sparks when it makes them at all.
Tried new flints and angling the flint in the cock. Will have to do more experimenting to find the fix.
LBL

More than likely you will have to harden frizzen

 

[Dave Marsh]

I had the same problem with my Pedersoli Kentucky that I bought brand new as a kit. Sent mine to Brad Emig for a tune up and have lots of sparks now.

 

[rickystl]

I once owned one back in the late 1960's. It was marked Centenial Arms. Barrel was left in the white. Traded it for custom powder horn while at Friendship back in the mid-1970's. Always thought it was a good looking pistol.
But I remember having the same problem with the lock producing sparks - reliably. Not sure about the later ones, but myself and others much later on thought that the lock geomotry was a bit off as designed from the Factory.

Rick

 

[Leadball loader]

Had the pistol out and spent a while just snapping the lock on the gun empty. It seems to be throwing more sparks. I will play with it more and see if it continues.
The gun did not have much scratching on the frizzen and I think it was not shot much before I got it.
LBL

 

[Leadball loader]

Changed the flints I am using to 3/4x3/4 English from TOW and it is making a good shower of sparks using the full face of the frizzen.
The recommended flint is not a correct size for this gun as it does not use the full face of the frizzen.
I still place a shim at the back of the flint to give it a better angle against the frizzen.
Hope to live fire sometime soon to determine if I have the fix.
LBL

 

[Leadball loader]

You can see the width difference in the marks on frizzen.