Source for a "pirate pistol"

[Shot deer]

Adding to my long list of what-to-get, is a pirate pistol. I've looked around, haven't seen many. :shocked: I thought there would have been alot. I would prefer a already built one, but I would accept a kit. Please give recommendations/whatever else you know. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I would like one that is good quality, I will get in alot of shooting with it.

 

[Treestalker]

Veteran Arms has their 1716/77 sea service pistol on sale for $425.00. This looks like the pistol Eddie Izzard carried in 'Treasure Island'. I don't know who actually makes it, but it looks good to me. This is a copy of a British pistol that was produced for 85 years or so. Twelve inch barrel, .58-.60 caliber smoothbore, brass furniture and bright barrel in walnut stained hardwood.

 

[arcticap]

Traditions made a Pirate Pistol, 50 cal. with a 10 inch rifled barrel and sights.
Most places discontinued it but I found a vendor that still has it.
It will allow you shoot a common round ball caliber with accuracy.
And it looks good with bright steel.
I found it available here where they have 2 in stock.--->>> https://www.anacortesgunshop.com/trad-p1430-pirate-50f-143160
But they will only ship it to an FFL dealer.
Traditions guns are also covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Here's a video of what looks the kit gun version in action.



It came as both a factory finished gun and as a kit.
The links below show a close up photo:

Kit: https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/traditions-trapper-pistol-kit-flintlock-50-cal-kpc5400.html

Factory finished: https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/traditions-pirate-pistol-50-cal-flintlock-p1430.html

 

[Stantheman86]

A "Pirate Pistol" could be many things, any of the Pedersoli French flinters like the AN IX could easily be a Pirate pistol, taken from a plundered French vessel in the early 1800s. I think Dixie has the other French pistol on sale right now, for $525?

I have heard mixed reviews on the Indian made flinters.

Any flintlock military pistol would 100% be a "Pirate Pistol" .

A flinter like the Pedersoli Navy Moll may not be a true copy of any historical pistol and is more of a high grade Kentucky pistol but would certainly be a neat Pirate Pistol.

 

[Oldbear63]

I have the Traditions kit pistol and it turned out great. Good luck finding one though.

 

[arcticap]

I have the Traditions kit pistol and it turned out great. Good luck finding one though.

I watched another video about it and the owner said that it has an internal adjustment screw to lighten the trigger pull weight.
The sights are dovetailed which allows them to be drift adjustable or swapped out.
And the rifling also allows for shooting conical bullets.
The Possible Shoppe still has it as a kit:--->>> http://possibleshop.com/images-pistol/pistol-kit.html

 

[Jeff Kaufmann]

When I was researching what to buy I could not find anything that I was overly impressed with. I ended up ordering a set of castings for a Queen Anne screw off barrel pistol from E.J. Blackley and am currently awaiting shipment. I placed my order in the middle of January and expected there to be a bit of a wait for the kit, but throughout the wait Kevin has been communicative and helpful with any questions I have had and been happy to update me as to the progress of the casting process etc. As of the end of last week I was told that everything was cast and all of the screws and small parts were assembled and should be getting shipped out shortly. So my fingers are crossed that I will be receiving the kit within a week or so. I am sure that I will be starting a thread with pictures and impressions as soon as I receive it as well as updating it as I progress through the build.

 

[Shot deer]

. I am sure that I will be starting a thread with pictures and impressions as soon as I receive it as well as updating it as I progress through the build.

That would be cool! So please do!

 

[NW Territory Woodsman]

Could this Pedersoli pistol have been used by pirates of the early to mid 18th century. If its time period is correct for pirates, I don't see why they couldn't have had one. Correct me if I'm off

https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-prodotto.asp/l_en/idpr_52/pistols-queen-anne-queen-anne.html
NWT Woodsman

 

[Jeff Kaufmann]

Could this Pedersoli pistol have been used by pirates of the early to mid 18th century. If its time period is correct for pirates, I don't see why they couldn't have had one. Correct me if I'm off

It is and isn't... It is shaped very much like a queen Anne, but has no turn off barrel. Which doesn't disqualify it in and of itself, there where a few of the style that were made that way, but there is no ramrod or provision for loading it... Which is strange. It strikes me as a good attempt at making a pistol look like a quenn Anne style, but not quite getting there.
One of the defining characteristics of the style to me is the breech loaded turn off barrel. The barrel itself is tapered, in the case of the one that I ordered it goes from .625 at the breech to .60 at the muzzle.

https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-prodotto.asp/l_en/idpr_52/pistols-queen-anne-queen-anne.html
NWT Woodsman

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The hay day of the Caribbean Pirates was the 1600's. A few were still around in the early 1700's.but had largely been killed or found new occupations by 1725. The Traditions pistol is nothing but a colonial Kentucky style pistol with a brass but cap. About 75 years too modern. Even the sea service pistols are a bit late in the historical period. A Snaphaunce style would be more in keeping with period accuracy. In addition, few pirate guns would have been rifled. They would more likely have captured guns from the nationalities they plundered than those of their own navy, unless they started as privateers.

 

[simonbeans]

Adding to my long list of what-to-get, is a pirate pistol. I've looked around, haven't seen many. :shocked: I thought there would have been alot. I would prefer a already built one, but I would accept a kit. Please give recommendations/whatever else you know. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I would like one that is good quality, I will get in alot of shooting with it.

I bought a used Traditions Pirate Pistol from a forum member a couple of years ago. I believe it was a kit. I reworked the stock a lot and added a few items (thimbles, belt hook and tumbler bridle). It sparks and shoots great. Price was very good so I had no regrets in purchase/customizing.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

A company made several spanish Miliquet pistols in the early 1970's. and again about 30 yrs ago. I have one of the later ones. In fact CVA sold them their first two years in business.

 

[Shot deer]

The hay day of the Caribbean Pirates was the 1600's. A few were still around in the early 1700's.but had largely been killed or found new occupations by 1725. The Traditions pistol is nothing but a colonial Kentucky style pistol with a brass but cap. About 75 years too modern. Even the sea service pistols are a bit late in the historical period. A Snaphaunce style would be more in keeping with period accuracy. In addition, few pirate guns would have been rifled. They would more likely have captured guns from the nationalities they plundered than those of their own navy, unless they started as privateers.

From my understanding, the pirates were big in the 1600's, but that there were more than a few after 1700. My understanding goes that the pirates were big enough up until 1725. I agree that they would have gotten most of their arms from the ships/places they plundered, and that few to none were rifled.

 

[arcticap]

Why limit oneself to the golden age of pirates when the 1st Barbary War involving the US & Sweden lasted from 1801 - 1805.--->>> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War

About rifling:
"Barrel rifling was invented in Augsburg, Germany in 1498.In 1520 August Kotter, an armourer from Nuremberg, improved upon this work.
Though true rifling dates from the mid-16th century, it did not become commonplace until the nineteenth century." --->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling

The Queen Anne pistol often had rifling.--->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Anne_pistol
Even if this were incorrect, since pirates could have plundered rich people from all over the world. there's no telling what they could have.
Here's a Queen Anne from 1760. They were made in many shapes and sizes.:

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Why limit oneself to the golden age of pirates when the 1st Barbary War involving the US & Sweden lasted from 1801 - 1805.--->>> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War

Why limit to that There are still today pirates off the coast of Somalia with uzis and machine guns and speed boats.

About rifling:
"Barrel rifling was invented in Augsburg, Germany in 1498.In 1520 August Kotter, an armourer from Nuremberg, improved upon this work.
Though true rifling dates from the mid-16th century, it did not become commonplace until the nineteenth century." --->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling

I thought one of the rules for historic authenticity was not whether a technology existed at the time, but whether it was used to any extent in the time and place in question. ( the could have vs did have argument) From your view, In-line flint guns were made in the 1600's and one of those could have shown up on a ship in the region. Given the type of fighting in close quarters, rifling would likely be seen as a hindrance to reloading. For distance, they had cannon. Few if any rifled pistols or muskets would have been used by navies of the time period, or by merchant ships, so the probability was smooth bore. There could also have been rifles used in the English civil war, but highly unlikely.

The Queen Anne pistol often had rifling.--->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Anne_pistol
Even if this were incorrect, since pirates could have plundered rich people from all over the world. there's no telling what they could have.
Here's a Queen Anne from 1760. They were made in many shapes and sizes.:

If we are talking Caribbean pirates of the 1600's to 1725 era, they may have plundered rich from some sea faring countries. Specifically French, Spanish and English. It is highly doubtful that folks from Austria or Finland or Italy would have been there. Which casts some doubt on people or technology from all over the world.

 

[arcticap]

Then whether discussing fantasy or reality, I'd guess that means that the existence of a "rifled pirate pistol" is a definite possibility after all.

 

[Stantheman86]

Blackbeard was active in the early 1700s and Pirates were very active in the New England and New Jersey area through the Revolutionary Era. In fact, only a few miles from where I grew up in Long Beach Island , NJ , Pirates would use lanterns to lure ships aground and then plunder the ship and kill the crew. This occurred well into the 1780s

 

[Jeff Kaufmann]

The golden age of piracy is largely considered to have ended around 1725, there were still active pirates after this time, however the vast majority of "friendly" ports had been closed to nefarious trade. Around 1766 or there abouts there was a pretty drastic uptick in plunderous activity again as the colonial sympathy towards Britain's rule was waning providing an opportunity for piracy to thrive once again. The pirate Jean LaFitte was active during the later portion of the 18th century and actually helped to defend the gulf ports from British invasion earning himself a pardon for his previous piratical ventures... He of course later returned to his ways and squandering his pardon.

 

[Shot deer]

The golden age of piracy is largely considered to have ended around 1725, there were still active pirates after this time, however the vast majority of "friendly" ports had been closed to nefarious trade. Around 1766 or there abouts there was a pretty drastic uptick in plunderous activity again as the colonial sympathy towards Britain's rule was waning providing an opportunity for piracy to thrive once again. The pirate Jean LaFitte was active during the later portion of the 18th century and actually helped to defend the gulf ports from British invasion earning himself a pardon for his previous piratical ventures... He of course later returned to his ways and squandering his pardon.

Looks like you and I have common ground...with interest in pirates....