My Boot Pistol

[DeArmitt Pa]

Hey everyone,

Been awhile since I posted but with everything going on its hard to keep up. We go out every weekedn but just no extra time to post. Ok, so we were looking for a lost CW camp when Keith and I stubled across an area in the woods with grass. No other grass in the area, just this small patch. So we stopped and hit it and popped up some good finds. Buttons, coins, bullets. Half of a king george and most likely a very early half cent, completly toasty. Then the good find, a boot pistol with an octogon barrel. The bore is a .30 caliber. Bad thing is the woods are already growing thick with brush. Hopefully we can get back there. If someone could please identify the proof/makers marks it would be very appeciated. Thanks for looking and happy hunting. Sorry, had it under Bob's username, now I got it fixed for those who saw it.

John DeArmitt,
Fort Bedford Metal Detectors

 

[lostcauses]

Nice find.

 

[CSA2K]

That is too cool!

 

[JmCraz8]

 

[texjim]

you don't see a boot pistol posted everyday.. nice job

 

[CladMagnet]

nice find looks like mine except mine is broken

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[CladMagnet]

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,399498.0.html

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Belgian from the proofmark. Great find.

 

[CC Hunter]

Cool little brass "cannon barrel" pistol.

This style is commonly know as a "muff pistol", as these were popular with ladies for carrying concealed inside their fur hand-warmer muff while traveling on cold nights. Of course men also found these easily concealable weapons to be useful as well.

The markings are indeed from Belgium, and more precisely the mark of Leige. These are noted in both flintlock mechanism dating from the 18th century, on through percussion firing style (utilizing a cap rather than flint) in the 1840's & 1850's. By the Civil War era and following decade, these were soon replaced by more reliable revolvers and cartridge firearms.

CC Hunter

 

[BuckleBoy]

CC Hunter beat me to the punch, but yes that mark is Liege gunworks.

GREAT find!

 

[JW15]

Nice finds!!

 

[Threshold]

Awesome find!

 

[Selous1851]

That's great!!!

 

[Doc Arey]

Nice find!

 

[SkyPirate]

It would be cool if you could restore it. Nice find, gotta check those open spots in the woods from now on.

 

[kevkirki]

now that is cooool!! never knew the made such a thing great find!!

 

[DeArmitt Pa]

Thanks for all the great information. I just got a chance to get back on here and look. I knew it had alot of age to it. How it got from Belgium to here in PA is just crazy. Just got to love this hobby. Thanks for all the comments.

John DeArmitt,
Fort Bedford Metal Detectors

 

[CC Hunter]

Thanks for all the great information. I just got a chance to get back on here and look. I knew it had a lot of age to it. How it got from Belgium to here in PA is just crazy. Just got to love this hobby. Thanks for all the comments. thumbsup

John DeArmitt,
Fort Bedford Metal Detectors

Those little Belgian pistols were actually quite popular throughout America for a half century or so. The city of Leige Belgium was quite noted for the many skilled firearms craftsmen there, and was a principal supplier through much of Europe and the Western countries. Really nothing "crazy" at all, as importing products to America began long before Japanese electronics and cars.

Here's one of my own Belgian Muff Pistols, with the Liege mark.

CC

 

[Mach1Pilot]

I was there when he dug that pistol and was instantly jealous over his great find! Looks even better cleaned up! Congrats John!