Three barrel pistol by J. BORTON

fernando · 6th April 2021, 03:27 PM

Hi Udo,

I read J. HORTON (circa 1740-50)

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corrado26 · 6th April 2021, 05:23 PM

Firstly I also thought it was HORTON, but with a magnifier you can clearly see that it is BORTON. If this would be HORTON than the proofmarks wouldn't be correct- these are Birmingham private proof marks of 1780-1800 and the two gunmakers HORTON mentioned in the New Stoekel worked 40 years later around 1820-25

fernando · 6th April 2021, 07:38 PM

Funny thing; in the first image, where the letters are still 'solid', i do see a H and not a B.
You must have read the e-mail i sent you; why have Christie's 'invented' that J. HORTON was active 1740-1750.
It must be something else but, a family HORTON in the gun trade had an ancestor (Joshua) active in 1750.

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corrado26 · 7th April 2021, 10:46 AM

Thanks Fernando. It is really hard to decice wether it is a B or an H, but after having read your email and the additions here I think you are right: It must be an H of the HORTON-family.

fernando · 7th April 2021, 11:12 AM

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Rick · 7th April 2021, 04:29 PM

What was the procedure for firing these pistols? Did they fire all 3 barrels at once; or was there some way to fire one barrel at a time?

Fernando K · 7th April 2021, 05:08 PM

Hello

At most you can fire the two barrels simultaneously, with the selector (tap) open in the first position then, to fire the third barrel you must move the selector again, If you want to shoot one at the same time, you must have the selector closed, then move it to first position and shoot, and then move the selector back to its last position and shoot. riding the hammer and the frizzen every time

Affectionately

6th April 2021, 05:23 PM	#2
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,226	Firstly I also thought it was HORTON, but with a magnifier you can clearly see that it is BORTON. If this would be HORTON than the proofmarks wouldn't be correct- these are Birmingham private proof marks of 1780-1800 and the two gunmakers HORTON mentioned in the New Stoekel worked 40 years later around 1820-25 Attached Images

6th April 2021, 07:38 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Just wonderig ... Funny thing; in the first image, where the letters are still 'solid', i do see a H and not a B. You must have read the e-mail i sent you; why have Christie's 'invented' that J. HORTON was active 1740-1750. It must be something else but, a family HORTON in the gun trade had an ancestor (Joshua) active in 1750. . Attached Images

6th April 2021, 03:27 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Udo, I read J. HORTON (circa 1740-50) .

7th April 2021, 10:46 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,226	Thanks Fernando. It is really hard to decice wether it is a B or an H, but after having read your email and the additions here I think you are right: It must be an H of the HORTON-family.

7th April 2021, 11:12 AM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	.

7th April 2021, 04:29 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	What was the procedure for firing these pistols? Did they fire all 3 barrels at once; or was there some way to fire one barrel at a time?

7th April 2021, 05:08 PM	#7
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello At most you can fire the two barrels simultaneously, with the selector (tap) open in the first position then, to fire the third barrel you must move the selector again, If you want to shoot one at the same time, you must have the selector closed, then move it to first position and shoot, and then move the selector back to its last position and shoot. riding the hammer and the frizzen every time Affectionately