An actual New Land pattern pistol

[dana_w]

Very nice. Is this a new acquisition Fernando?

[Fernando K]

Estimado Fernando:

Lo que me llama la atención, siendo una pistola reglamentaria (es visible la BO con la flecha:Board of Ordnance) es la ausencia de los punzones del Banco de Pruebas, de Londres o Birmimgham. Asismismo, no puedo descifrar lo grabado en la madera, del lado izquierdo: W.H...........

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Dear Fernando:

What strikes me, being a service pistol (BO is visible with arrow: Board of Ordnance) is the absence of the proof mark punches of London or Birmimgham. Also i can not decipher the wood engraving on the left: WH ..........

Affectionately. Fernando K

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Dear Fernando:

What strikes me, being a service pistol (BO is visible with arrow: Board of Ordnance) is the absence of the proof mark punches of London or Birmimgham. Also i can not decipher the wood engraving on the left: WH ..........

Affectionately. Fernando K

Caro Fernando K,
I wouldn't know the reason for the absence of British proof marks; maybe because this was a Portuguese contract and proof tests were not needed in the origin Country. I know this is not an unique example; there is a similar pistol out there in the Net with the same MR marks on the barrel and no proof marks.
The initials WH are the only ones in the same line.
But below other lettering appears, not being easy to decipher; some name finished by .... MSON. I would like to know what these mean.

.

[kronckew]

nice pistol. no hidden proof marks underneath the barrel?

william iv was also king of hanover at the same time he was king in the UK. royalty was pretty much interrelated back then, and is still. hard for them to find a royal mate of similar age they are not too closely related to. his successor, victoria, managed to marry most of her children around the royal courts of europe - WW1 was in fact a squabble amoungst close family.

p.s. - what is the crown/B mark on the barrel? interim proof? germany also had a crown/B proof mark. it looks a bit mis-struck, could there have been another letter right of the 'B'?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

... what is the crown/B mark on the barrel? interim proof? germany also had a crown/B proof mark. it looks a bit mis-struck, could there have been another letter right of the 'B'?

There is no space under the crown for a second letter; and i would say this is not a case of mis-struck marking, but the irons that were worn.The example i have seen out there has the same failures in both barrel markings. Concerning the 'B', i wonder if it isn't a 'P' instead ... like for Portugal. On the other hand, i have been reading a couple books in my miserable library and learnt that some New Land variations had British mountings and Portuguese barrels; this would explain why there are no Brit. proof marks on the barrel.
I have also learnt something (for me) outstanding. The ramrod (front) end in this pistol is wider than the barrel bore; i thought this was a bad replacement and was about to take it to a turner to reduce its diameter. I have just read that the Brits didn't use this end to ram the bullet but the narrow end that is inside the pistol stock. Brits are really different ... no wonder they drive by the left .
... Just kiding, lads

.

[Fernando K]

Dear Fernando:

El extremo de la baqueta, mas ancho que el calibre del cañón, no es para empujar la bala, sino para empuñar la baqueta. La parte que empuja la bala está en el otro extremo, y es la que queda metida en la caja. Se hace correr la baqueta de su cureña, y el extremo mas chico queda cerca y de la boca, y empuja la bala. Al sacarse, queda cerca del canal de la baqueta, y se introduce en el empujando desde el otro extremo-

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

[fernando]

Originally Posted by dana_w

Very nice. Is this a new acquisition Fernando?

Yes, Dana.
Some swap i made during the last weekend.