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30th May 2011, 11:06 AM | #1 |
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Finally worth getting up at 5am Flintlock pistol
Hi all .. new to this form .. I collect and restore old English shotguns and collect old bottles and pottery .. so i set off on my usual run round the car boot sales and the last thing on my mind as i wandered around with not a item found at 6am .. then i spotted a dealer with what seamed like a "modern" Flint lock pistol screwed to a piece of floor board .. he said to the lady it was a modern copy which had been made to look old and was not worth here asking price .. when she would not budge on the price he put it back under the table .. i then picked it up and had a good look at it and it just felt right .. so a quick haggle and it was mine .. it was in a very bad state but once i had the board off it looked to me like it could date from 1840-50s if it was English .. but it was covered in an "Islamic" text .. so still not sure .. so i was wondering if someone hear can help me with the translation .. date .. and what it should look like as i am now going to strip and rebuild it .. would it be Blued or browned at this period
all the best and thanks .. more pictures to follow off the restoration project Last edited by Jim McDougall; 31st May 2011 at 02:54 PM. Reason: add description for reference |
30th May 2011, 12:39 PM | #2 |
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Fantastic! What a thing to find. I was just saying in the display thread about the terrible things people used to do to 'display' old weapons.
welcome to the forums BTW. Just concertrate on the woodwork. Leave the metal with the nice aged look that it's got (IMHO). Best Gene |
30th May 2011, 12:45 PM | #3 |
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Such a beauty, congratulations. Welcome to the forum :-)
Post some pictures of the inscription and I think we'll get it translated soon enough. |
30th May 2011, 01:03 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
i have attached pictures of the text .. hope you can help |
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30th May 2011, 01:06 PM | #5 | |
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check out the state of the wood when i opened her up |
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30th May 2011, 01:14 PM | #6 |
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More "yuck" photos
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30th May 2011, 01:17 PM | #7 | |
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Hi Dooly I know the damage is mostly modern, but often we see repairs and filled areas on these 'ethnic' guns. I would say that you have either the option of replacing the woodwork, or repairing it with infill and replaced areas. Whats your plan? Best Gene |
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30th May 2011, 01:33 PM | #8 | |
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I have attached a couple of pictures of a early hammer gun which was found in a farmers shed a few weeks ago .. totally rusted solid and the stock was snapped and rotten .. this is where i am at with it at the moment .. i have decided to "rainbow" the metal on this one and the hammers will be browned .. the stock is in the oversize stage and needs lightning once all the metal work has been fitted .. the wood is steamed beach and will be stained the the correct color once completed .. Luckily the Farmer had stuffed the barrels with oily rags before dumping it in the shed and the barrels are still in proof so hopefully this season it may bag a bird or two for the pot |
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31st May 2011, 05:31 AM | #9 | |
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30th May 2011, 03:11 PM | #10 |
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Now stripped and initial dip done
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30th May 2011, 06:57 PM | #11 |
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Well all done bar the barrel .. looks like the lettering was silvered or something .. will think about what to do with it ..
all barricaded now just let the oil soak in and next the stock .. still need to work out if i should make it with a ramrod holder .. what do you think |
31st May 2011, 07:51 PM | #12 |
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Hear you go .. a couple of shots of the hand bluing .. I think another 4 or so coats and it will be ready to buff it up
the second is of one of the flints i have found field walking .. all the best |
31st May 2011, 08:31 PM | #13 |
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Location: St. Louis, MO area.
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Very cool !!! That barrel is beautiful. Thanks for the pic.
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1st June 2011, 05:03 AM | #14 |
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Dooly and Ricky, you're very welcome, and it was truly my pleasure to learn from this example and share what I found. That really is was this forum is all about and I really appreciate you guys' input.
The arrowheads topic is most interesting but there are sincere concerns about compromising archaeological sites and potentially important finds without proper protocol. We are interesting in weaponry from all times and thier history as long as these perameters are observed. Again, its really great what you guys are doing with these old guns! and please keep us posted with progress. All the very best, Jim |
1st June 2011, 05:38 PM | #15 | |
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PS all my digging and detecting is with the landowners permission !!! Now back to the gun .. well my timber man did not let me down .. I have attached a couple of pictures of the bit (1 meter) of Cameroon Sapele i have chosen for the gun .. (the timber is FAS registered). I think this is as close as i can get to a appropriate re stocking timber for this gun .. link to the tree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapele Now the next hard bit .. pick the bit to cut out the new stock out .. !!! |
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1st June 2011, 07:54 PM | #16 |
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Question is what would they have used in the country the gun was used, Lead / Leather / felt ??
Lead for the jaws was usually issued to European and American military troops. But not exclusively. I would think that leather and fabric (maybe thick felt) would be more plentiful in that part of the World. But I'm only guessing. One of the questions that comes up with Middle Eastern flintlock type guns is why the mainsprings are so strong compared to their European counterparts. Their are a couple therories. But the one that makes most sense to me is that the "quality" of flint in that Region was simply not as good as English black or French amber flint. |
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