Gun???

[kuger]

Trying to I.D. this gun,but I am at a loss?It resembles the Josiah Elles revolver,and a couple other transition type guns,but not exact.It has a hammer similar to a Pepperbox,but has a short cylinder?Also has the bolt out the front?I dunno

 

[dscott67]

does it have holes all the way through the cylinder? and how many chambers are there ? it looks to be an old black powder pistol,like 1800-1860 ,anyway nice find and goodluck !

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Wow I'm stumped.... here's the closest I could find so far. Awesome find!!!!


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:545&biw=1024&bih=653

You may try sending a pic to this site: http://www.american-firearms.com/american-firearms/IE-others/START-other.html

 

[kuger]

It has six cylinders,and is percussion,looks to be maybe 31 caliber?

 

[kuger]

Thanks Ken,funny you should post that one,I dug that one a couple years ago!!!! (minus the barrel)

Would you beleive this was an eyeball find??

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Very cool. I think I would soak it in water and clean it up a bit with a toothbrush..

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Thanks Ken,funny you should post that one,I dug that one a couple years ago!!!! (minus the barrel)

Would you beleive this was an eyeball find??

I gotta ask.... what kind of location/site?

 

[kuger]

Mid to late 19th century site

 

[dtpost]

You can try electrolysis

 

[KLGourley]

This is an awesome find! Congrats!
Although I cannot be certain, your find closely resembles an antique Percussion Pepperbox Pistol/Revolver.

Take a look at the one at the top of this page: http://www.pinevilleantiquestation.com/civilwar-guns-pas.html
Also look at the few here: http://www.amazingcoolpictures.com/2009/06/10-extraordinary-antique-guns-amazing.html

There are a number of variations, but I'm guessing your find would probably fall somewhere in the mid 1800's time frame.

Also...and this is pure speculation...could that 'bolt' at the end of the barrel possibly be the base of a broken off bayonet like on these:
http://www.prices4antiques.com/fire...erbox-Bar-Hammer-5-Shot-Bayonet--D9746699.htm

 

[CC Hunter]

Kuger,

The gun appears to be a mid-19th Century Bar Hammer Transitional Revolver. The style followed the widely popular "Pepperbox" design, and preceded the moves by most major revolver manufacturers into what became the more familiar cap and ball revolver with rear facing cap nipples on the cylinders along with a thumb cock hammer.

The "bolt" out the front of your relic example, is for attaching the barrel. Famed American gun manufacturer and prominent pepperbox producer, Ethan Allen, turned out several bar hammer transitional revolvers. However, their frame design differed from what we see with this relic recovery. English manufactures, noted for their pepperbox revolvers, soon followed suit with comparable bar hammer transitional revolvers. We may possibly find an attributable match for this example, with a British origin.

CC Hunter

 

[trixie charger]

CC,

That is closer than anything I have found!!!

 

[kuger]

Thanks for the replies.I looked at the Transitional pistols,and do see the resemblance,but if you were to slide the cylinder back on this example to where it would have seated under the Bar Hammer,the "bolt"would presumably protrude out further than the weapon pictured?


CC,why didnt you reply via e-mail when I originally sent this to you??

 

[Monty]

cchunter got it. Very nice find. Monty

 

[CC Hunter]

CC,why didnt you reply via e-mail when I originally sent this to you?? icon_scratch

Even though we live in a day when information seems instantaneous, my brain and body are still operating in another century. Rather than jump in and say something off-base, I strive to provide the best possible answer when the opportunity allows. Sometimes it is days (or years), before I come up with the right answer.


CC Hunter

 

[kuger]

CC,why didnt you reply via e-mail when I originally sent this to you?? icon_scratch

Even though we live in a day when information seems instantaneous, my brain and body are still operating in another century. Rather than jump in and say something off-base, I strive to provide the best possible answer when the opportunity allows. Sometimes it is days (or years), before I come up with the right answer.


CC Hunter

Well I thank you,and appreciate your opinion.I am still not totally convinced its a match however

 

[CC Hunter]

Kuger,

The photo that I posted is the closest I could find at the time. Your example has a shorter bar hammer, as well as a slightly different trigger guard of brass, rather than of steel as shown on the trigger guard in my posted photo.

During the mid-19th Century, gun manufacturers were turning out all types of design variations. Manufacturers were copying other manufacturers and often trying to circumnavigate patents and such (Colt's Patent is a prime example). Sometimes it's almost like trying to identify old cars that have slight changes between years and models (I.E. "Is it a '52 Oldsmobile or a Buick"?)

My instinct is for some reason leaning towards a British make for yours, as mentioned earlier. I have an excellent reference book in my library on the history of Ethan Allen, showing their pistols and revolvers designed and made over the years. The various bar hammer transitional models that Ethan Allen had made were not nearly as close in design as the photo I have posted here for comparison. I believe the one that I have provided here is an English bar hammer revolver.

CC Hunter

 

[planejet42]

For some reason, the first thing that came into my mind was some sort of drill. Cool find!

 

[CC Hunter]

For some reason, the first thing that came into my mind was some sort of drill. Cool find!

An early model DeWalt cordless?

CC Hunter