Scottish Pistol Pair

[corrado26]

I cannot see the sense of the screws at the ramshorn butt. Normally these are needles to clean the ignition hole but these two items are far too thick for this purpose. So I tend to think that these pistols are fakes

[Tordenskiold1721]

Originally Posted by corrado26

I cannot see the sense of the screws at the ramshorn butt. Normally these are needles to clean the ignition hole but these two items are far too thick for this purpose. So I tend to think that these pistols are fakes

You are absolutley right Udo. The Screws ends in needles that fully penetrates the touch hole. The photo is taken with the pistols up side down so you can see that the needles is well seated in the touch holes. Hope this makes more sense of the "screws" Udo ? :

[fernando]

No proof marks on the barrels, Tordenskiold ?

[Tordenskiold1721]

Originally Posted by fernando

No proof marks on the barrels, Tordenskiold ?

The only small stamp that this photo magnefies on the inside of rusty greasy barrels are number 4 as seen on this photo. This apears to be assemply numbers:

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Tordenskiold1721

The only small stamp that this photo magnefies on the inside of rusty greasy barrels are number 4 as seen on this photo. This apears to be assemply numbers:

Yes, an assembly number, most certainly. Could you check if the other pistol also has a number in the same place (barrel tang) ?

[Tordenskiold1721]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes, an assembly number, most certainly. Could you check if the other pistol also has a number in the same place (barrel tang) ?

The photos of several Scottish pistols shows various locking solutions in half cocked and fully cocked position. Thank you for pointing out this variations. I simply found a photo that better ilustrated a pair without any of the locking systems. Anyway the aforementioned is besides the point

Assemply number 4 with a five above:

[Raf]

Surprisingly no one has pointed out that the lock internals show a remarkable similarity to a 53 Enfield. Note the swivel link to mainspring and the wedged mainspring attachment . Features that become more common in the percussion period arguing a date more towards the 1840s. The fact that they seem to have avoided proof is worrying but what is more concerning is the lack of a bolster to the barrel tang. Meaning that there is no effective way of screwing in the breech plug. If there is no evidence of a screwed in breech plug the barrels have to have been machined from the solid which is obviously completely contrary to functional firearms practice , at least in this period. Having said that I still don't think they are copies , reproductions , Indian or otherwise. I know its clutching at straws but I am beginning to wonder if they were made as non functional regalia in the early Victorian period. Congratulations on the fine pairs of pistols you posted.