Balkan Flintlock Pistol

rickystl · 6th March 2021, 05:50 PM

Hello ALL

I haven't posted anything lately. So here is a new member of the family.

Here is a pistol of moderate interest. It is well worn and appears to have seen a lot of action in it's day, with various alterations along the way.
The first thing I noticed was the grip area of the stock. The grip looks very much like pistols from the Montenegro area. Interesting that the semi-famous later revolvers from this area kept a similar grip configuration.
The grip once had checkering, but is almost completely worn off. There is a thin, one-piece reinforcing metal strap that travels from the rear of the crude trigger guard to the rear of the breech plug tang. There is a big chip of wood missing from the stock above the front of the lock plate. The stock does not appear to have been refinished.
The barrel is 10 inches long and about .65 caliber. Not really sure if the barrel is a European export or a locally made piece. It's pretty well worn. But the breech plug assembly leads me to think it was originally a European trade barrel. The barrel appears to have originally been flintlock, and later converted to percussion, then re-converted back for flintlock use. Not unheard of with these pistols.
The lock is a fairly crude, local example. It functions, but has seen much usage. The frizzen to pan screw has been replaced with a pin. And looks as though it was done a long time ago. The hammer guide has been bent allowing the top jaw to wiggle sideways. The lock does not fit the stock mortise correctly. I'm sure it's a replacement, but done long ago as the vent hole and pan do align properly.
The barrel bands are 20th Century replacements. (But done very well. Wish I knew who made them LOL).

I've dis-assembled the gun and there are no markings anywhere. But that is common for many of these Balkan made pistols.
It's all a bit of a mess. But I was able to purchase it VERY cheap. And it does represent another Balkan style that I didn't have in my collection.

So my best guess is that this pistol was originally made in Montenegro, or at one of the Balkan gun shops for a Montenegrin customer. What do you think ?

Rick

rickystl · 6th March 2021, 05:51 PM

MORE PICS.......

rickystl · 6th March 2021, 05:53 PM

PICS OF GUN DIS-ASSEMBLED.......

rickystl · 6th March 2021, 05:54 PM

TWO MORE......

Kubur · 6th March 2021, 07:14 PM

Hi Rick,

Another gun!!

Yes, according to Oliver, they are Montenegrin pistols.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=montenegrin

Take care
Kubur

David R · 7th March 2021, 01:01 AM

I like it, thanks for posting!

Oliver Pinchot · 7th March 2021, 05:24 AM

The form of the butt was intended to give the impression that the owner was packing a M 1870 Gasser pistol (which I believe fired the largest black powder shell of its time.) Since only the butt showed above the holster or silahluk, it probably worked. The most interesting thing about these Gasseresque flintlocks is that they were used well into the 20th century.

David R · 7th March 2021, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

The form of the butt was intended to give the impression that the owner was packing a M 1870 Gasser pistol (which I believe fired the largest black powder shell of its time.) Since only the butt showed above the holster or silahluk, it probably worked. The most interesting thing about these Gasseresque flintlocks is that they were used well into the 20th century.

Very much reminds me of the Philippine knife/dagger with a hilt made to look like a pistol grip. Intimidation or mere fashion?
As for late period use, I one time bought a couple of percussion pistols from Colonel Corry that were 1960-70's Iranian police confiscations from Kurdish tribesmen, still loaded!

rickystl · 8th March 2021, 07:14 PM

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated. Interesting the prolonged use of this grip style. The so called Gasser revolvers are quite popular with some collectors. Especially if you can locate one in good condition.

Judging by it's condition and alterations, the flintlock posted here looks like it was still in use during the early 20th Century. LOL

Rick

6th March 2021, 05:50 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Balkan Flintlock Pistol Hello ALL I haven't posted anything lately. So here is a new member of the family. Here is a pistol of moderate interest. It is well worn and appears to have seen a lot of action in it's day, with various alterations along the way. The first thing I noticed was the grip area of the stock. The grip looks very much like pistols from the Montenegro area. Interesting that the semi-famous later revolvers from this area kept a similar grip configuration. The grip once had checkering, but is almost completely worn off. There is a thin, one-piece reinforcing metal strap that travels from the rear of the crude trigger guard to the rear of the breech plug tang. There is a big chip of wood missing from the stock above the front of the lock plate. The stock does not appear to have been refinished. The barrel is 10 inches long and about .65 caliber. Not really sure if the barrel is a European export or a locally made piece. It's pretty well worn. But the breech plug assembly leads me to think it was originally a European trade barrel. The barrel appears to have originally been flintlock, and later converted to percussion, then re-converted back for flintlock use. Not unheard of with these pistols. The lock is a fairly crude, local example. It functions, but has seen much usage. The frizzen to pan screw has been replaced with a pin. And looks as though it was done a long time ago. The hammer guide has been bent allowing the top jaw to wiggle sideways. The lock does not fit the stock mortise correctly. I'm sure it's a replacement, but done long ago as the vent hole and pan do align properly. The barrel bands are 20th Century replacements. (But done very well. Wish I knew who made them LOL). I've dis-assembled the gun and there are no markings anywhere. But that is common for many of these Balkan made pistols. It's all a bit of a mess. But I was able to purchase it VERY cheap. And it does represent another Balkan style that I didn't have in my collection. So my best guess is that this pistol was originally made in Montenegro, or at one of the Balkan gun shops for a Montenegrin customer. What do you think ? Rick Attached Images

6th March 2021, 05:51 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	MORE PICS....... Attached Images

6th March 2021, 05:53 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	PICS OF GUN DIS-ASSEMBLED....... Attached Images

6th March 2021, 05:54 PM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	TWO MORE...... Attached Images

7th March 2021, 05:24 AM	#7
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	The form of the butt was intended to give the impression that the owner was packing a M 1870 Gasser pistol (which I believe fired the largest black powder shell of its time.) Since only the butt showed above the holster or silahluk, it probably worked. The most interesting thing about these Gasseresque flintlocks is that they were used well into the 20th century. Attached Images

6th March 2021, 07:14 PM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Rick, Another gun!! Yes, according to Oliver, they are Montenegrin pistols. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=montenegrin Take care Kubur

7th March 2021, 01:01 AM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	I like it, thanks for posting!

8th March 2021, 07:14 PM	#9
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated. Interesting the prolonged use of this grip style. The so called Gasser revolvers are quite popular with some collectors. Especially if you can locate one in good condition. Judging by it's condition and alterations, the flintlock posted here looks like it was still in use during the early 20th Century. LOL Rick