Pepperbox pistol 1840s?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

My pepperbox is very similar to yours Jim.
It does have a maker's name W.Dooley of Liverpool - so definitely English, and an additional safety feature which locks the hammer up. Each barrel is numbered and has a proof mark.

The barrel numbers are, I think, important for loading. To help ensure you don't load a barrel twice.
Obviously, the caps go on last. There is no half cock position but if you use the safety bar you can rotate the barrels by number to load.

Firearms are mostly outside my interest but this came up at auction with no other bidders. So I was happy to take it home.

Thank you SO much for this! It seems compelling this is likely the same maker by the characteristics pretty much a match. This info literally opened the flood gates for online data!This is exactly the kind of input I always hope for, which is why I posted these. Now I can document properly....cant believe Ive waited this long to follow up on these!

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you SO much for this! It seems compelling this is likely the same maker by the characteristics pretty much a match. This info literally opened the flood gates for online data!This is exactly the kind of input I always hope for, which is why I posted these. Now I can document properly....cant believe Ive waited this long to follow up on these!

Hi Jim, I don't want to dampen your excitement but your pepperbox could be from one of many makers of these. If it was of the same maker as the other one shown here, then I believe it would also have his name on it. Both have different features (hammer lock as an example) and although the engraving is similar it is not the same.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Jim, I don't want to dampen your excitement but your pepperbox could be from one of many makers of these. If it was of the same maker as the other one shown here, then I believe it would also have his name on it. Both have different features (hammer lock as an example) and although the engraving is similar it is not the same.
Stu

Thanks Stu, I sort of figured that, but its surely a better benchmark than I had before. No great loss as Ive had this for over 40 years so FINALLY decided to figure what it is. Its funny, Ive studied weapons for over 40 years, but it seems always trying to figure what everybody elses weapons were, never really getting into my own from years before. Quite a learning experience, and lots of fun no matter what the outcome.