Pistol I.D. please

Ian Knight · 21st January 2010, 09:55 AM

I received this pistol part with a few other bits and pieces that I bought at an auction in the U.K.. Would anyone have an idea what the pistol is please?
There are a couple of markings which appear to be an arrow over a letter 'V' over a star. The barrel is octagonal with a bore of 8mm.
Thanks.
Ian

Dmitry · 21st January 2010, 02:31 PM

Looks like a cut-down rifle breach.

fernando · 21st January 2010, 04:34 PM

The arrow and the V (for viewed) are (or also are) symbols of British proof and inspection marks; maybe just a coincidence

Fernando

fernando · 21st January 2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Looks like a cut-down rifle breach.

I would say this is surely from a pistol; look at the barrel with its sight ... in all integrity.
Fernando

fernando · 21st January 2010, 04:42 PM

Can you open it?
Sideways ... upways ?
And then take a picture?
Fernando

Dmitry · 21st January 2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

I would say this is surely from a pistol; look at the barrel with its sight ... in all integrity.
Fernando

Rear sight for a rifle barrel.

Ian Knight · 21st January 2010, 05:16 PM

Thanks guys. I think you are correct Dmitry. The barrel appears to have been cut down to turn a rifle into a pistol. The sight does have a 'V' cut in it.
I have taken it apart but I will have to wait until daylight to take a decent photo. The hammer strikes against a pin which passes through a hole in the the breech. The breech can be swiveled up to load by means of a little handle on the right side of the breech. The hammer has got two cocked positions.

Ian

Dmitry · 21st January 2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Knight

The hammer strikes against a pin which passes through a hole in the the breech. The breech can be swiveled up to load by means of a little handle on the right side of the breech. The hammer has got two cocked positions.

Ian

Sounds like a Flobert rifle.

Ian Knight · 21st January 2010, 09:00 PM

That's it Dmitry. I have checked similar examples online.
Thanks for your help.
Ian

fernando · 21st January 2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

I would say this is surely from a pistol; look at the barrel with its sight ... in all integrity.
Fernando

So i was blind

Fernando

Norman McCormick · 21st January 2010, 11:29 PM

Hi,
The mechanism sounds more like centrefire, would like to see better photos though, and as far as I can remember Flobert actions were all rimfire regardless of calibre. There was a reasonable sprinkling of 8mm centrefire rifles in the late 19th early 20th Century.
Regards,
Norman.

Dmitry · 22nd January 2010, 04:05 AM

This is the Warnant patented breech for the Flobert system.

kahnjar1 · 22nd January 2010, 04:07 AM

What you have is definately a cut down long arm. I have had two of these over the years, one single and the other a double barrel smoothbore. The action is (I believe) RISACKS PATENT as this was marked on on one of mine. The proof marks shown are BELGIAN, not British.
Regards Stuart

Ian Knight · 22nd January 2010, 07:33 AM

Thanks Stuart,
The mark is indeed the same as the illustration.
The breech looks like it is of the 'Springfield' improved type.
Ian

21st January 2010, 09:55 AM	#1
Ian Knight Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Sussex, England. Posts: 103	Pistol I.D. please I received this pistol part with a few other bits and pieces that I bought at an auction in the U.K.. Would anyone have an idea what the pistol is please? There are a couple of markings which appear to be an arrow over a letter 'V' over a star. The barrel is octagonal with a bore of 8mm. Thanks. Ian Attached Images

22nd January 2010, 04:05 AM	#12
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	This is the Warnant patented breech for the Flobert system. Attached Images

22nd January 2010, 04:07 AM	#13
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	What you have is definately a cut down long arm. I have had two of these over the years, one single and the other a double barrel smoothbore. The action is (I believe) RISACKS PATENT as this was marked on on one of mine. The proof marks shown are BELGIAN, not British. Regards Stuart Attached Images Last edited by kahnjar1; 22nd January 2010 at 05:15 AM.

21st January 2010, 02:31 PM	#2
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Looks like a cut-down rifle breach.

21st January 2010, 04:34 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The arrow and the V (for viewed) are (or also are) symbols of British proof and inspection marks; maybe just a coincidence Fernando

21st January 2010, 04:42 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Can you open it? Sideways ... upways ? And then take a picture? Fernando

21st January 2010, 05:16 PM	#7
Ian Knight Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Sussex, England. Posts: 103	Thanks guys. I think you are correct Dmitry. The barrel appears to have been cut down to turn a rifle into a pistol. The sight does have a 'V' cut in it. I have taken it apart but I will have to wait until daylight to take a decent photo. The hammer strikes against a pin which passes through a hole in the the breech. The breech can be swiveled up to load by means of a little handle on the right side of the breech. The hammer has got two cocked positions. Ian

21st January 2010, 09:00 PM	#9
Ian Knight Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Sussex, England. Posts: 103	That's it Dmitry. I have checked similar examples online. Thanks for your help. Ian

21st January 2010, 11:29 PM	#11
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi, The mechanism sounds more like centrefire, would like to see better photos though, and as far as I can remember Flobert actions were all rimfire regardless of calibre. There was a reasonable sprinkling of 8mm centrefire rifles in the late 19th early 20th Century. Regards, Norman.

22nd January 2010, 07:33 AM	#14
Ian Knight Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Sussex, England. Posts: 103	Thanks Stuart, The mark is indeed the same as the illustration. The breech looks like it is of the 'Springfield' improved type. Ian