Estate sale black powder pistol kit

[NOLA_Ken]

Most Saturdays I go out to estate sales with my ex's grandfather, mostly to see what I can find, but also I've been asked to try to keep him from buying too many oddball things (I have a slot machine I'm fixing for him that the rest of the family still doesn't know he bought) Yesterday seemed to be a gun stuff kid of day foe me, I picked up a couple old cleaning kits one of which came with a C.M. Powers brass cleaning rod that's over 100 years old with an 1896 patent date, I'll get pics of it later, and I bought this little pistol kit for $2.00. It's a smoothbore and I think .36 cal but my calipers seem to have vanished and I won't know for sure until I find or replace them. I'm absolutely amazed that all the little parts are still there, even the brass bead front sight so I'll be working on getting it built over the winter.

This thing is really in the rough with heavy machining marks all over the barrel and needs pretty much everything filed sanded and polished. I've never seen one this crude and I'm wondering how old it is... 1980's? Earlier? The kits I remember from 20 years ago were a lot closer to finished as far as the metal work. Anyway it will be fun to build.

 

[Blak bart]

I always wanted to build one of those !! Congrats and have fun with your winter project.

 

[Westfront]

$2 sounds like a good deal! I remember these cheaply built kits from the 80s. Here most came from Spain. With some work you'll get a nice piece! Not sure if i would fire it tho.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “back lock” kit, pretty dern cool if you ask me. If you need .36 cal round balls, I’m your guy!! I may even have a few molds around

 

[jewelerguy]

did a little looking on the net. Seems popular kits produced by CVA (Connecticut Valley Arms) were popular but also a little higher quality as far as being near finished. Another company that produced kits was the 'Antique Gun Model Company'. What little I found showed a kit that was a basic rough out similar to yours. It was produced in the early 70's

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It's definitely crude, there's no pre drilled screw hole in the barrel tang, and the screw holes in the lock plate aren't tapped, luckily I just got a tap and die set though. I spent a little time with my dremel yesterday just to see what I was getting myself into but it seems to clean up ok it'll just take time and a lot of hand filing. The lock plate is tiny! I think the hammer on my Enfield musket has more metal in it than this lock. It will have to come apart too so I can polish up the lock plate so that should be fun.



It will be fun to see just how fancy I can make it, and maybe make a nice little presentation box for it as well

 

[Tuberale]

With your 1916-d SLQ, you should be able to afford a pretty nice box for the pistol, Ken.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

With your 1916-d SLQ, you should be able to afford a pretty nice box for the pistol, Ken.

The D is nice and clear on it, and with my reading glasses, a magnifying glass and plenty of imagination I can almost see the 1916 on that worn flat spot

 

[trdking]

Got to love a winter project! Please show us the result when you come out and see your shadow?

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[ToddsPoint]

If you need any tips on polishing I can probably help you. Here's one I did. Gary

 

[A2coins]

Thats really cool and you stole that bad boy show us when your done....

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Great winter project!

 

[parsonwalker]

Dixie Gun Works (Turner Kirkland) sold some mighty common kits in the 70s. You might look into that.

 

[dirtlooter]

I built a Kentucky style kit back in 1974, barely got it finished when my father's friend bought it off of me for $70. I used the money towards a 58 cal Zouave musket. it was an easy build and finish. first one of many muzzle loaders

 

[DCMatt]

That's a great find and a terrific winter project.

I poked around a little and found this:



It is very similar to yours. Not much info. 41 caliber. Made in Spain stamped on the barrel. Sold at auction for $109 a decade ago.

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/8481987

 

[NOLA_Ken]

That's a great find and a terrific winter project.

I poked around a little and found this:

View attachment 1780746

It is very similar to yours. Not much info. 41 caliber. Made in Spain stamped on the barrel. Sold at auction for $109 a decade ago.

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/8481987

That's pretty close, mine is completely unmarked and has a couple little differences but it should look similar when it's finished

 

[T.C.]

Most Saturdays I go out to estate sales with my ex's grandfather, mostly to see what I can find, but also I've been asked to try to keep him from buying too many oddball things (I have a slot machine I'm fixing for him that the rest of the family still doesn't know he bought) Yesterday seemed to be a gun stuff kid of day foe me, I picked up a couple old cleaning kits one of which came with a C.M. Powers brass cleaning rod that's over 100 years old with an 1896 patent date, I'll get pics of it later, and I bought this little pistol kit for $2.00. It's a smoothbore and I think .36 cal but my calipers seem to have vanished and I won't know for sure until I find or replace them. I'm absolutely amazed that all the little parts are still there, even the brass bead front sight so I'll be working on getting it built over the winter.

This thing is really in the rough with heavy machining marks all over the barrel and needs pretty much everything filed sanded and polished. I've never seen one this crude and I'm wondering how old it is... 1980's? Earlier? The kits I remember from 20 years ago were a lot closer to finished as far as the metal work. Anyway it will be fun to build.

View attachment 1779822

I had one just like that. It was probably 70's or early 80's. Sold to an old guy I worked with. It was a fun winter project.