Pedersoli Kentucky Flintlock Pistol Kit .50 cal

[Compressorguy]

Hi all, first post and introduction. I’ve been lurking here for a while and really got the muzzle loading bug. Ive been a shooter all my life, pistols, rifles and shotguns, and have built numerous AR’s, Ak’s, restored many German antique air rifles, shoot sporting clays regularly, got into suppressors, etc,etc. I have always admired and wanted a flintlock rifle and picked up a very nice used Pedersoli Frontier flintlock a couple a months ago and have absolutely loved it, even more so than the center fires! Since then I have made a possibles bag, bought a horn and did some relief carving on it and carved some powder measures from antler and wood. Now i’ve been wanting a .50 cal pistol to compliment the rifle, so after ALOT of research I decided on the Ped. vs buying a completed one just to strip it and redo the finish and reshaping and browning the barrel to my liking. I know there would be work (I accept the challenge and look forward to it) but the purpose of this post is to photo document the pistol kit as received, since there aren’t many specific pics of the uncompleted kit and ask your opinions on whether this kit should go back based on some concerning areas. The area of most concern is the breech plug tang gaps, especially at the back of the tang, since the barrel tang screw and the rear side plate screw has already been drilled and installed. Also the trigger guard has been very poorly filled and as way too thin. Several posters mention replacing it with one from TOW. Lastly the trigger has 1/4” of loose travel play in it even when cocked and almost is pressed against the rear of the guard when fired. This is way too excessive, not to mention the trigger flex’s excessively due the the absurd pull weight. Again, I know there will be work that is “reasonably” acceptable but then there’s ”corrective” work that shouldn’t be acceptable to a point. Seems I have read several post where it took as many as 3 returns to get an acceptable kit. By the way I purchased this from DGW and the quality of this kit does not reflect on them directly (but how they handle cust service afterwards will). That being said I have read many really good post about their customer service, so not really concerned at all about that. I really want to love this specific pistol and the challenges it brings but what are your thoughts based on the photo’s, acceptable and keep or unacceptable and send back for another?

 

[Compressorguy]

Remaining photos

 

[Dave Marsh]

I purchased one of these in kit form and 54 cal. My inletting was very good and tight. I would have sent mine back if the inletting looked like these pictures. Good luck.

Dave

 

[erhunter]

If your not happy with it return it. This looks like it is a kit to be worked on to your liking. As far as the trigger play I would send it back. You will never be happy with it so get another one while you can return it yet.

 

[Compressorguy]

My humble tinkerings, I know it’s not pc or hc but I did what any good colonial would have done and made what I needed with what I had at hand, lol. The bag is from scrap leather laying around and the strap is an old belt. The antler measure for the rifle, I bought from the pet store, is 70gr. The fish is for the pistol and 35gr. and made from some maple I had laying around. The old horn I bought off eBay and made a fill plug, strap and did the carvings and scrimshaw. I love every aspect of this hobby!

 

[Compressorguy]

Thanks for the input. Spoke to DGW by phone and they were very accommodating and said they should be able to go through and hand pick based on my concerns. Sent it back today. We’ll see what comes.........

 

[fishmusic]

Compressorguy, you will definitely have to tinker with the lock. It looks like the same lock as the Pedersoli Kentucky rifle. You will find the frizzen spring is stiff and needs some metal removed on the top to make it less stiff. Grind carefully so as not to heat it up and cool with water often. do that until it feels right. Polish and deburr the tumbler and sear to get it smoother and lube it well.

 

[TreeMan]

Other than the excessive gap behind the tang everything else about this kit is comparable or better than other kits I’ve purchased. I’ve got several Kentucky type pistols from different makers and they all have sloppy heavy triggers. Everything else about the kit in the pictures is normal from my experience. They are pretty rough straight out of the box.

 

[Compressorguy]

Thanks for the replies and recommendations. I spoke with DGW the other day and they said all the kits had the barrel tang stock gap. So they are sending out another and I will deal with it. Probably just weld up the back end of the tang and file/fit it. I’ll look at some photos of originals to decide if I’ll leave it rounded or file it square and recut the tang inlet. I plan on pinning and browning the barrel, replacing the muzzle cap, trigger and trigger guard anyway. Just going to take my time, learn the process and enjoy the build.