Okay Tales, I need help with a "pirate pistol"

[Texasbadger]

Bought a large estate this past weekend, civil war era military and pocket pistols, this one is a beauty and is absolutely unmarked as to maker.  Any ideas, I figured Talesofthesevenseas "A.K.A. Pirate Woman, might know as it probably belonged to one of her relatives!

[talesofthesevenseas]

A lovely pistol that would surely be the envy of any pirate! 

Flintlocks rather than a percussion pistol would have been used during what became known as the "Golden Age of Piracy" in the 18th century. That's typically what you see portrayed in movies etc. But in reality, piracy has existed since ancient times and pirates have used everything from flaming arrows to modern weaponry. Whatever they could get their hands on and whatever technology had to offer.

Very, very cool pistol! LOVE IT!!

[syl]

Is it unusual for a weapon like that to have no markings on it?

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'm afraid I am not very well-versed in pistols for a pirate! 

[Texasbadger]

I think its a "guild gun" manufactured in a gunsmiths shop.  Guild guns are often not marked other than caliber, and this one may be under the barrel but Im not taking it out of the stock.

[KC]

Like this site Texasbadger and their explanation of a Guild Gun!

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=107406

[Texasbadger]

Exactly, several made it so no one gets to claim it, strictly utilitarian

[Texasbadger]

Okay Ive learned from a black powder site that its more likely a late 1700s Dutch travelling pistol thats been converted from flint to percussion.  Cool!

[talesofthesevenseas]

Interesting! Can you see signs of the frizzen having been cut off? It does look like there is a hole in the right place for the fizzen spring.

Here's a good diagram of what would have been there originally:

[talesofthesevenseas]

That is really great that you found a good black powder forum. Swords and pistols can really be tough to ID sometimes because the styles were copied by different countries. When someone had a good idea it would catch on and spread. I'm glad you found a group able to help ID it!

[waywardangler]

Tales, I think the conversion would mean the original flintlock plate would have been removed and a percussion one installed in its' place.  The fit of the metal to wood around the lock plate looks sloppy which would have been much tighter with the original flintlock plate.  While the original flintlock hammer could have been removed and a percussion one installed along with the percussion nipple and drum, I do not see any wear from a frizzen spring.  I would think wear would be evident on the lock plate from the frizzen spring.

A very nice pistol Texasbadger, even if it was converted eons ago.  I really like the face on the butt.  If you do ever take it apart, a maker's name could be on the back of the lock plate also.  At least the maker of the lock plate.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I see, I have never seen one that had been converted before. Thanks for clarifying .

[regularjoe2]

Cool little Gat , Texasbadger .

Looks like a keeper !

[KC]

I really, really like the looks as well!

[Texasbadger]

Thanks guys, Ive got a friend thats good at taking things apart may get him to take the wood off.  Wouldnt trust myself, Im left handed in a world full of right hand screwdrivers!