My girlfriend has been handed down an old tower flintlock pistol. This is way out of my area of firearms knowledge and i was hoping someone here could help. It has proof marks on the barrel and also reads GR under a crown and Tower on the lock itself.
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OptimusPrime
Member
Looks very cool.
What's your question?
What's your question?
I would like to determine if it is very old or if it was one of the many reproductions done in the 70s and 80s. Unfortunately the family has very little info on it. I know it was restored and that the original guns had an oil finish. I am just having a lot of trouble determining age.
I'm no expert on those, but I thought the barrels were bright. It looks like someone might have tried to "restore" the gun with cold blue. Also lockplate has no border and I never saw one with a safety. Maybe it is a after service mod or some pre-BATFE bureaucrat made them put the safety on.
The double neck cock indicates a later gun, probably after 1802 or so.
Jim
The double neck cock indicates a later gun, probably after 1802 or so.
Jim
Thanks Jim, I have looked at a lot of pictures too and have only seen one other with the safety. I was told that her grandfather did a "restoration" on the firearm. For sure the finish on he stock is not correct, it is a shiny finish as opposed to a lighter oil finish. As for the barrel I would also agree that it looks a bit too good if it is close to 200 years old. Please keep the comments and suggestions coming if you have them, a different point of view is great for research purposes.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The lock safety was normal on the 1808 New Land Pattern Tower pistol.
Nothing unusual about that.
http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/57/lid/143
I 'Think' your gun is old, and correct.
But unfortunately most of the collector value has been destroyed by the ill- advised 'restoration'.
It would be worth several times more if it was still a rusty clunker!
rc
Nothing unusual about that.
http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/57/lid/143
I 'Think' your gun is old, and correct.
But unfortunately most of the collector value has been destroyed by the ill- advised 'restoration'.
It would be worth several times more if it was still a rusty clunker!
rc
Sunray
Member
The 'GR' means George Rex, but that pistol looks far too new to be a real vintage pistol. If it has been refinished, its collector value is completely gone.
Easiest way to start is to take the stock off and look for proof marks on the barrel.
Easiest way to start is to take the stock off and look for proof marks on the barrel.
He doesn't need to take the stock off, the proof marks are very visible on the barrel, and they appear to be correct.
Thanks, rc, for that info. I might not have seen one that late. I will have to get the book.
FWIW, the Japanese copies were marked GR and Tower, and quite a few of those have been "aged", sometimes for fun, sometimes with intent to deceive and defraud.
Jim
Thanks, rc, for that info. I might not have seen one that late. I will have to get the book.
FWIW, the Japanese copies were marked GR and Tower, and quite a few of those have been "aged", sometimes for fun, sometimes with intent to deceive and defraud.
Jim
It's a neat old piece but I agree it's been cleaned/restored.
On the plus side you can probably shoot it.
On the plus side you can probably shoot it.
Jim Watson
Member
Looks like it has been hot blued, about 200 years out of time.
Not a "restoration."
Not a "restoration."
Just to be nitpicky, "GR" stands for "Georgius Rex", the Latin version of "King George". Of course there were several of those, including George III of not-so-happy memory, who couldn't believe his American colonies were unhappy under his beneficent rule.
Jim
Jim
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