18thC Ottoman Flintlock Holster pistol restoration project.

Atlantia · 17th July 2011, 11:57 AM

Acquired this once rather fine large holster pistol and thought you'd all like to see it in 'as found' condition.
Besides, I'm still scratching my head about where to start with the cleaning and restoration.
Looks Ottoman but who knows what marks might be under the rust (some elements could be European?).

Any comments, help, suggestions of where to begin greatfully received.

Best
Gene

Matchlock · 17th July 2011, 03:09 PM

Hi Gene,

The good thing to start with is that is preserved in untouched and unspoilt condition.

If it were mine I would dismantle it and clean each part separately. For the iron surfaces I recommend 000 steel wool soaked with oilve oil, and gentle rubbing. Check every few seconds so that no irreversible damage will occur. For the brass parts I would use one of the many brass polishing lotions available everywhere and rub with a soft cloth. Still I would prefer not to let it get too shiny and look new.

Personally, I would not clean the wood, just polish it litghly with a hard cloth (linen, e.g.). This way, the charming surface of old would stil be preserved, without looking 'dirty' and seedy.

As to the replacement of the ramrod, most Ottoman pistols just had plain wooden ramrods slightly expandig to the fore-end.

Anyway, let us know (and see!

) the result!

Best,
Michael

Atlantia · 17th July 2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Gene,

The good thing to start with is that is preserved in untouched and unspoilt condition.

If it were mine I would dismantle it and clean each part separately. For the iron surfaces I recommend 000 steel wool soaked with oilve oil, and gentle rubbing. Check every few seconds so that no irreversible damage will occur. For the brass parts I would use one of the many brass polishing lotions available everywhere and rub with a soft cloth. Still I would prefer not to let it get too shiny and look new.

Personally, I would not clean the wood, just polish it litghly with a hard cloth (linen, e.g.). This way, the charming surface of old would stil be preserved, without looking 'dirty' and seedy.

Let us know the resullt!

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,

Thanks you for coming into this so quickly. As you can see, this poor gun has some condition issues at the moment. Its parts are either loose or siezed, the bolt heads have worn and rounded slots, and of course there is a lot of rust and accumilated surface encrustation that may or may not hide serious damage.
I'm nervously keeping my fingers crossed on this one Michael, as I've wanted a big flintlock pistol for a very long time.
I just never get offered them at a good price!
This one was a bargain even with the condition issues, so I'm just hoping that it is salvagable to a reasonable standard.

I've cleaned the frizzen spring which had plenty of hard rust and rubbish caught in it, then opened the frizzen to clean the flash-pan.
The frizzen and spring are in good order under the dirt and rust. There is also a strange repeating geometric pattern between the frizen spring and cock. I won't test the mainspring if I can help it until I can remove the entire lock and check its condition from the inside.

There is just over 3 inches of the ramrod remaining

I'll post a picture in a little while of the outer cleaning of the lock.

Best
Gene

Matchlock · 17th July 2011, 04:39 PM

Have fun then, Gene!

m

Atlantia · 17th July 2011, 07:26 PM

Got a cracked mainspring unfortunately.

Here's the engraving on the lock plate:

rickystl · 18th July 2011, 03:10 AM

Hi Gene. I agree with Michael on the dismantling. Some of the lock screws might need some good penetrating oil. Let it sit for a few days, adding a little each day. Looks like all the major pieces are there. The broken mainspring: SAVE the broken one!! A new one can be made using the old one as a pattern. Same with any other broken internals. I'm working on these old guns myself all the time. It will be interesting to see if there are any barrel markings. The pistol looks ottoman, or made in the Balkans for the Turkish market. Good luck. And keep us posted on your progress. Rick.

17th July 2011, 11:57 AM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	18thC Ottoman Flintlock Holster pistol restoration project. Acquired this once rather fine large holster pistol and thought you'd all like to see it in 'as found' condition. Besides, I'm still scratching my head about where to start with the cleaning and restoration. Looks Ottoman but who knows what marks might be under the rust (some elements could be European?). Any comments, help, suggestions of where to begin greatfully received. Best Gene Attached Images

17th July 2011, 03:09 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Gene, The good thing to start with is that is preserved in untouched and unspoilt condition. If it were mine I would dismantle it and clean each part separately. For the iron surfaces I recommend 000 steel wool soaked with oilve oil, and gentle rubbing. Check every few seconds so that no irreversible damage will occur. For the brass parts I would use one of the many brass polishing lotions available everywhere and rub with a soft cloth. Still I would prefer not to let it get too shiny and look new. Personally, I would not clean the wood, just polish it litghly with a hard cloth (linen, e.g.). This way, the charming surface of old would stil be preserved, without looking 'dirty' and seedy. As to the replacement of the ramrod, most Ottoman pistols just had plain wooden ramrods slightly expandig to the fore-end. Anyway, let us know (and see! ) the result! Best, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 17th July 2011 at 03:34 PM.

17th July 2011, 07:26 PM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Got a cracked mainspring unfortunately. Here's the engraving on the lock plate: Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 17th July 2011 at 08:48 PM.

17th July 2011, 04:39 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Have fun then, Gene! m

18th July 2011, 03:10 AM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Hi Gene. I agree with Michael on the dismantling. Some of the lock screws might need some good penetrating oil. Let it sit for a few days, adding a little each day. Looks like all the major pieces are there. The broken mainspring: SAVE the broken one!! A new one can be made using the old one as a pattern. Same with any other broken internals. I'm working on these old guns myself all the time. It will be interesting to see if there are any barrel markings. The pistol looks ottoman, or made in the Balkans for the Turkish market. Good luck. And keep us posted on your progress. Rick.