can anybody ID this?

maint1517 · Sep 4, 2018

Hertzer said:
Me to that why I posted the picture, oh and most of the screw heads were engraved as well.

The engraved heads, I would lean more to them being original to the gun.

Hertzer · Sep 4, 2018

Loyalist Dave said:
In the book is a portion that begins:

A LIST OF GUN MAKERS, AMERICAN AND FOREIGN, WHOSE ARES WERE USED IN AMERICA BETWEEN 1600 AND 1800

Then further it lists:

GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN

(Approximately 1770-1800 or later)

Pfaff, Carsel

Pfaff, Posen

So it's post 1800 as it's caplock. It's very similar to smaller pistols, sometimes called muff-pistols, that used a key, and one removed the barrel, poured the powder into the chamber, sealed the chamber with a ball, then screwed on the barrel onto the gun which held everything in place, tight. They got very good velocity in a small package, since the ball was forced onto the rifling like a modern bullet and the gas was well sealed. The small versions normally used a "box lock" type of caplock, and this gun looks like an enlarged version.

LD

2 different Pfaff's. I'm assuming it's a father & son gunmakers then, for a modern size prospective it is the size of a 3 inch J frame S&W minus the cylinder width. Larger than the "muff pistol" box locks in my collection though not by a great deal, so perhaps a gentleman pocket gun then? At lest I'm getting to know a great deal more about it than I have for the last 40 years.

Hertzer · Sep 4, 2018

this is the easiest to get a picture of the smaller engraved ones are simple rays like a sun wheel

Hertzer · Sep 4, 2018

Quick google check and found that screws lathes were in use by 1777 in England so machine made screw would not be an unreasonable possibility.

4v50 Gary · Sep 4, 2018

Interesting that the mill marks were left on as part of the decoration.

Loyalist Dave · Sep 5, 2018

Hertzer said:
2 different Pfaff's. I'm assuming it's a father & son gunmakers then, for a modern size prospective it is the size of a 3 inch J frame S&W minus the cylinder width. Larger than the "muff pistol" box locks in my collection though not by a great deal, so perhaps a gentleman pocket gun then?

OR perhaps brothers? We have famous example here..., the Hawken Brothers.

I think it's a gentleman's pistol, and I wonder if it originally had several of the chamber/nipple assemblies to go with it..., for a quick reload. As a brace set, a pair of very hard hitting guns that would be quickly reloaded, could be quite formidable. I wonder if the original owner was a banker or a jeweler? Perhaps a senior, Royal Navy ship's captain?

I haven't held it, so can you check and see if it is easier to cock using the right or the left hand? IF it's obviously easier for the left..., maybe it was intended for use in the left hand while the officer held his short sword or cutlass in his right hand???

LD

Hertzer · Sep 5, 2018

I would imagine it did come with several cambers as I have 2 the one in the pistol and one in the cartridge collection, the hammer is on the right side of the lock so it seems easier to use the right hand. I can see a banker, a jeweler or any gentleman wishing for more than a walking stick for protection caring one of these, but some how I see a ships captan using something rather more intimidating. Though I could well be wrong about that.

can anybody ID this?

maint1517

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