QuestionQUESTION: I am attempting to find out more about a gun I own. I am looking to find out more info about it, ie... where made, possible age, if there is any worth to it, and if so where could I sell it. I know you do not give actual appraisals but an approximate would be helpful. What I was told (and I have no idea if this info is correct) is that it is a Belgium made single shot black-powder pistol. The only marking is on the butt of the handle and it looks to be the number 100. The hammer looks to be hand hammered, due to roughness in shape. A magnet sticks to the hammer. The hammer still moves and has "spring" left in it when you cock it. There is no trigger, it was gone when I obtained this gun. The gun appears to be one piece(minus hammer & trigger), possibly brass or copper, (a magnet does not stick to it). I have not attempted to clean this gun, however someone tried to clean the bottom some where the numbers appear. There is wood on both sides of the handle. It is a dark "tiger" striped wood. I have pictures of this gun and would be glad to send them to you, if that would be helpful. The butt of the gun measures 1 1/4" by just over 3/4". The barrel of the gun measures just under 3" from in front of the hammer to the end if the barrel. The barrel opening is just over 1/4" on the inside and the outside measurement of the barrel opening is 5/8". The over all length of the gun is 5 1/4" long and 2 3/4" high. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
ANSWER: Can't tell what you have but probably can with pictures. My regualr email is
[email protected], send pics and I will try to help you. Sounds interesting. Thanks.
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QUESTION: I was just wondering it you got the pictures I sent you of the qun I was asking about? Hadn't hear back from you yet so I thought I would check to amke sure you got them. If so have you figured out what it is? Thank you for your help!!
Chris
AnswerI received pics and have been trying to more positively ID it without luck. Although I would say your friend is correct, probably Belgian, brass construction, obviously is percussion, and by design always was (not a converted flintlock), these type pistols were basically for self defense, made 1820's through 1850-60's for the most part. I couldn't tell caliber but if large bore, sometimes large bore single or double barrel pistols were named "howdah" pistols and carried by hunters for short-range dangerous game hunting. Thanks.
