German Pistols for I.D.

rickystl · 12th October 2011, 10:01 PM

Hello all. I believe these pistols are Prussian Pattern 1850 Conversion Pistols. Would anyone with more European reference material concur? Thanks for any assistance. Rick.

rickystl · 12th October 2011, 10:03 PM

Ooops. Forgot to Post photos.

fernando · 12th October 2011, 10:44 PM

Very nice pair of pistols, Rick.
Some French touch in this model?

Do they belong in your collection?

rickystl · 13th October 2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Very nice pair of pistols, Rick.
Some French touch in this model?

Do they belong in your collection?

Hi Fernando! No, they are not in my collection - yet. The owner does wish to sell them. I believe my I.D. is correct. I was just looking for confirmation.
I seldom see these offered. Yes, they are in the best condition I've ever seen. I'll keep you posted. Thanks, Rick.

Matchlock · 13th October 2011, 08:00 PM

Hi Rick,

Your ID is correct indeed; the maker Crause in Herzberg signed a lot of these but built civilian guns as well. The overall condition looks nice and worth collecting. I can't see whether the rings are still present on the butt caps.

I attach a scan from Claude Blair: European and American Arms, one of the titles I reommended you.

Best,
Michael

fernando · 13th October 2011, 08:34 PM

Great Michl

... not: Great, Michl

.

Matchlock · 13th October 2011, 08:49 PM

Great Michl, i.e. Michl the Great would also be accepted!

rickystl · 13th October 2011, 09:16 PM

Hi Michael!! I'm waiting to hear about the Cavalry rings on the butt stocks. Meantime, the bores of both pistols appear to be in unfired -still in the white - condition!! Only very slight spots of surface rust and patina. Possibly only test fired originally?
One pistol is marked Herzberg Crause, the other is marked Suhl. The numbers on one is 1852, the other 1879. Yet both are in identical condition. Interesting.

Atlantia · 13th October 2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hello all. I believe these pistols are Prussian Pattern 1850 Conversion Pistols. Would anyone with more European reference material concur? Thanks for any assistance. Rick.

lovely pair, they are sometimes called 'Potsdam pistols' over here.

Matchlock · 14th October 2011, 12:34 AM

Right, Gene,

Over there!

As these percussion models were built long after the classic Potsdam (or, it was spelt in the 18th c., 'Potzdam') manufactury makes of. ca. 1725-1785, this term is not usually in use 'over here'.

Best,
Michael

Atlantia · 14th October 2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Right, Gene,

Over there!

As these percussion models were built long after the classic Potsdam (or, it was spelt in the 18th c., 'Potzdam') manufactury makes of. ca. 1725-1785, this term is not usually in use 'over here'.

Best,
Michael

lol, thanks Michael.
I should have said they are sometimes generically refered to as.....

You had me wondering if I was just tripping for a moment, but I googled 'potsdam pistol' and lots of pictures of the 1850 Prussian cavalry were in there as well as the 18thc ones....
Phew!

I haven't seen a real one in the flesh in a long time but reproduction ones seem to show up every now and again.

Best
Gene

12th October 2011, 10:01 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	German Pistols for I.D. Hello all. I believe these pistols are Prussian Pattern 1850 Conversion Pistols. Would anyone with more European reference material concur? Thanks for any assistance. Rick.

12th October 2011, 10:03 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Ooops. Forgot to Post photos. Attached Images

13th October 2011, 08:00 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Rick, Your ID is correct indeed; the maker Crause in Herzberg signed a lot of these but built civilian guns as well. The overall condition looks nice and worth collecting. I can't see whether the rings are still present on the butt caps. I attach a scan from Claude Blair: European and American Arms, one of the titles I reommended you. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 13th October 2011 at 08:48 PM.

12th October 2011, 10:44 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Very nice pair of pistols, Rick. Some French touch in this model? Do they belong in your collection?

13th October 2011, 08:34 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Great Michl ... not: Great, Michl .

13th October 2011, 08:49 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Great Michl, i.e. Michl the Great would also be accepted!

13th October 2011, 09:16 PM	#8
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Hi Michael!! I'm waiting to hear about the Cavalry rings on the butt stocks. Meantime, the bores of both pistols appear to be in unfired -still in the white - condition!! Only very slight spots of surface rust and patina. Possibly only test fired originally? One pistol is marked Herzberg Crause, the other is marked Suhl. The numbers on one is 1852, the other 1879. Yet both are in identical condition. Interesting.

14th October 2011, 12:34 AM	#10
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Right, Gene, Over there! As these percussion models were built long after the classic Potsdam (or, it was spelt in the 18th c., 'Potzdam') manufactury makes of. ca. 1725-1785, this term is not usually in use 'over here'. Best, Michael