SOUTH INDIAN PISTOL

[BANDOOK]

Thanks Kubur you are right ,good observation the barrel looks like a Omani AF ,As I have not seen such examples posted in the forum so would be good to know more about these pistols,regards Rajesh

[rickystl]

Hi Bandook.

Now that's an interesting pistol. Here in the States you don't often see PISTOLS with Indian origin. The percussion lock looks like it was copied from the British Enfield pattern, but maybe a bit smaller for pistol size. Same with the percussion bolster. So both those items might also be clues to Indian origin. The barrel with multiple flutes at the muzzle is really neat. Don't believe I've seen another like it.
As Kubur mentions, the gun could very well have been made without a trigger guard. If there is no evidence that a guard was ever installed, then this is liely the case.
Again, a really interesting pistol you don't often see. Congratulations.

Rick

[Kubur]

Normaly these guns have a kind of blunderbluss muzzle...
Is it possible that the barrel was a replacement?
And Rick, what do you think about the barrel, is it Indian, or something else (Persian)?
Thanks

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Normaly these guns have a kind of blunderbluss muzzle...
Is it possible that the barrel was a replacement?
And Rick, what do you think about the barrel, is it Indian, or something else (Persian)?
Thanks

Hi Kubur.

I agree with Pukka here. It looks like a section of barrel that was cut short from both the breech and muzzle ends, and then re-breached. Curious the long breech plug tang. Sort of like a Caucassian pistol.
Of course we know in this area of the world how often barrels, locks, etc. were recycled to make anything that would shoot. You never see any two alike. But you can often trace the origins from the decoration. But not always. It seems some have a confluence of cultures in it's decoration. Probably due to trade and other influences.

Rick

[rickystl]

BUMP !!!!

I was going to start a new Thread, but then remembered fellow Forum member, Bandook had started this Thread on South Indian pistols. So I used the Search function which brought up his original post from this month - a year ago. So, I thought I would just continue the conversation.

Here is a recent aquisition I bought from Auctions Imperial about 3/4 auctions ago. Notice how similar this pistol looks to the one Kubur posted above from Oriental Arms. Even the lock.
When I received the pistol there were only two issues (that I knew beforehand)
1. LOCK: The top screw was slightly bent, and the frizzen was not quite flush while covering the pan. So the Locksmith made the fixes and tuned the lock. It now works/sparks great.
2. STOCK: The front ramrod pipe was missing as well as the ramrod. So I had a new pipe made to match the rear. It turned out to be an almost dead-ringer to the rear pipe. Had a new iron and wood rod made to match.

So this small bit of restoration has the pistol looking much better now. Thanks for looking. Picture heavy as usual. LOL

Rick

[rickystl]

MORE PICS........Check out how close the new front ramrod pipe matches the original rear pipe.

[rickystl]

ONE MORE OF THE NEW RAMRODS......It's a "false" rod and doesn't travel the length of the barrel due to the over-sized locks used in these pistols.

[BANDOOK]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Bandook.

Now that's an interesting pistol. Here in the States you don't often see PISTOLS with Indian origin. The percussion lock looks like it was copied from the British Enfield pattern, but maybe a bit smaller for pistol size. Same with the percussion bolster. So both those items might also be clues to Indian origin. The barrel with multiple flutes at the muzzle is really neat. Don't believe I've seen another like it.
As Kubur mentions, the gun could very well have been made without a trigger guard. If there is no evidence that a guard was ever installed, then this is liely the case.
Again, a really interesting pistol you don't often see. Congratulations.

Rick

THANKS RICK,AN INDIAN PISTOL WAS MISSING IN MY COLLECTION SO WAS A GOOD ADDITION
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS
REGARDS RAJESH

[BANDOOK]

AM POSTING ANOTHER PICTURE OF A INDIAN PISTOL WITH PERCUSSION CAP AND HAMMER ON THE SAME LINES

[Pukka Bundook]

Interesting pistol in the O.P!

When I first saw it, I too thought the barrel came from an Omani/Persian long arm. It appears narrower at the breech, so believe it is a cut -down barrel re-used.
I recently found examples of these A-F barrels, but stocked up in Northern India, (Afghan style mostly, ) so whether they are Persian, or came from other parts of India I do not know. Trade could well account for them being up North.

[BANDOOK]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Interesting pistol in the O.P!

When I first saw it, I too thought the barrel came from an Omani/Persian long arm. It appears narrower at the breech, so believe it is a cut -down barrel re-used.
I recently found examples of these A-F barrels, but stocked up in Northern India, (Afghan style mostly, ) so whether they are Persian, or came from other parts of India I do not know. Trade could well account for them being up North.

Thanks Pukka Bundook