Old pocket pistol and Chinese opium/ medicine bottle

[dagaro17]

Hi everyone,

I found a pistol and bottle at what I believe was a small camp near a hydraulic pit in the Northern California. I was digging lots of square nails and out popped the bottle. The pistol was found about 10 feet away. Couldn't believe it. I'm new to detecting and it is very addictive! If anyone knows any info on the gun it would be much appreciated. It's a five shot, .30 or .32 caliber. Thanks.

 

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[Greastart]

Nice diggins! No idea but wanted to offer congratulations!

 

[Greastart]

You're in Nor Cal. How far north? I'm closer to Oregon than Sacramento.

 

[danloop]

The pistol's in pretty good shape for being in the weather for probably 75 years or so. Good project to clean it and get it working again. Envious.

 

[Blak bart]

Too cool...nice pistol and a very cool bottle. Congrats !!

 

[trdking]

It looks like a Wadsworth Swamp angle Spur trigger revolver. Hopelessly toasted. Will never be fired again. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLC4kPWasOcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 

[dieselfool]

Really nice finds! The pistol could have been made by a number of firms; they proliferated in the last quarter of the 19th century when this pistol was made. Perhaps a .32 rimfire. Google 'spur trigger pocket revolvers' and you will see many similar to yours. Good luck in the future!

 

[dagaro17]

Thanks everyone. Can't wait to get back and search the area some more.

dieselfool: I think you may be right. I found a .32 Rimfire casing in the same area.

Greastart: I'm in the Redding area. So many places to explore out there.

 

[Argentium]

I've got an opium bottle just like that .. my brother dug it out of an old bottle dump in Helena
Montana ..I think it may be circa 1880's .

 

[MikeRo]

That Pistol is Crazy Cool!!! Congrats

 

[washingtonian]

Neato! Sounds like a fun site to hunt and learn at. Fingers crossed there are a few old coins there!

 

[dave wiseman]

It's not an opium bottle.Opium came in colorful flat metal tins.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

It's not an opium bottle.Opium came in colorful flat metal tins.

Dave what came in that type of bottle? Since your seem to be certain, I’m hoping to learn something new here.

All the bottle books I’ve ever read call that an opium bottle.

I’m familiar with tin opium cans. Perhaps this was just a different form of opium? I’ve seen them with a dark brown residue in the bottom.
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The revolver is much older than 75 years old! Luckily we were not shooting those types of firearms during WW2, or we would not be speaking English!

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/bottles-glass/137346-old-chinese-medicine-bottles.html

Anybody read Chinese? What ever came in them was popular and because of the small size..apparently powerful. I suspect is was a pain killer oil, probably based on opium.

 

[Diggeraddict]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/bottles-glass/137346-old-chinese-medicine-bottles.html

Anybody read Chinese? What ever came in them was popular and because of the small size..apparently powerful. I suspect is was a pain killer oil, probably based on opium.

Ive heard them called opium bottles as well but I don’t believe it to be true. Maybe something more powerful but enough opium just wouldn’t fit in that small of a bottle and forget about trying to get it out. I have a couple myself so I would love to know what actually was stored in them. Nice finds my friend and happy hunting

 

[dave wiseman]

The Chinese are/were big on medicinal herbs..believe that's what was in those little green bottles.

 

[dave wiseman]

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1...hUKEwiKgL2ruLTnAhVHj54KHSo6BocQ4dUDCAc&uact=5

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1...hUKEwiKgL2ruLTnAhVHj54KHSo6BocQ4dUDCAc&uact=5

Camp life, leisure & food | Tracking The Dragon | NSW Migration Heritage Centre

This site says they held tincture of opium, which appears to be laudanum or morphine.
Could it have been taken by adding drops to tea, or rubbing directing on the gums around rotten teeth?

 

[dagaro17]

Found some more info on the bottle https://sha.org/bottle/miscellaneous.htm#Chinese
In the area that I found the bottle there are also quite a few ceramic fragments like this. Maybe like the container pictured in the link above?

Also, I cleaned up the pistol and there are no identifying marks. Probably a Swamp Angel as trdking pointed out. The barrel is only 1 1/2" long.
https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/SSs/sss.html

 

[dagaro17]

I agree with IMAUDIGGER, whatever was in those bottles it must have been pretty potent as they could only hold a fraction of an ounce.