Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - C18th/C19th Pistols ID

celtan · 16th December 2008, 01:13 AM

Hi Paul,

Try to store them with their hammers fully depressed (just as if they were just fired) that way the sears are not stressed and they mantain their strength. Storing them full or half cocked will damage the sears.

Before anything else, make sure they aren't loaded. Clean their bores with a soft brass bore brush. Sometimes they have a round bullet lodged, and the BP stays protected behind same, maintaining its viability for VERY long. If something is stuck there, apply a blast of compressed air through their vent (touch-hole) with the same tip used to fill basket-balls . If vent is blocked, open same with a needle or wire, then blast through with air.

If something still remains, then pehaps ypou should use a worm or take them to a gun-smith for cleaning. Some armourers can actually remove the breech plug and remove anything still there..

I think the spanish pistols may be recent copies.

Try to see if the guns have anything written on their sides, top of the barrels et al. The box locks look Belgian...

When cleaning them, use ammonia solution. then a a fine mesh wire pad . Do not remove brass patina with the pad, just clean the steel parts.

You can always disassemble the locks (don't forget which screw goes where, they are all usually different) and clean them in an ultrasonic cleaner, then use denatured alcohol, acetone or WD-40 to remove any left over humidity. Finally lubricate with gun oil, and wax the outside of the barrels (after cleaning off the lubricating oil).

I like to use orange oil or olive oil on the wooden parts.

We need any existing inscriptions to go on from here.

Best

Manuel Luis

16th December 2008, 01:13 AM	#2
celtan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PR, USA Posts: 679	Hi Paul, Try to store them with their hammers fully depressed (just as if they were just fired) that way the sears are not stressed and they mantain their strength. Storing them full or half cocked will damage the sears. Before anything else, make sure they aren't loaded. Clean their bores with a soft brass bore brush. Sometimes they have a round bullet lodged, and the BP stays protected behind same, maintaining its viability for VERY long. If something is stuck there, apply a blast of compressed air through their vent (touch-hole) with the same tip used to fill basket-balls . If vent is blocked, open same with a needle or wire, then blast through with air. If something still remains, then pehaps ypou should use a worm or take them to a gun-smith for cleaning. Some armourers can actually remove the breech plug and remove anything still there.. I think the spanish pistols may be recent copies. Try to see if the guns have anything written on their sides, top of the barrels et al. The box locks look Belgian... When cleaning them, use ammonia solution. then a a fine mesh wire pad . Do not remove brass patina with the pad, just clean the steel parts. You can always disassemble the locks (don't forget which screw goes where, they are all usually different) and clean them in an ultrasonic cleaner, then use denatured alcohol, acetone or WD-40 to remove any left over humidity. Finally lubricate with gun oil, and wax the outside of the barrels (after cleaning off the lubricating oil). I like to use orange oil or olive oil on the wooden parts. We need any existing inscriptions to go on from here. Best Manuel Luis