Hello

I was wondering if anyone on this site could try and help me identify a flintlock dueling gun I have? The gun belonged to my fathers grandfather. The grandfather had moved to Montreal Canada In the 1800's.He came over from Northern Scotland.

I have had civil war experts look at it and they can not identify it. My father himself was a civil war historian but he is now deceased. Lately after talking about this with my mother was told the great grandfather was from Northern scottland so there is a good chance the weapon originates from there. Maybe even 1600's I was told by one who could not clearly identify the weapon.

My father and his cousin when they were boys in Montreal In the 1940's were playing in the attic of the old house on Westmount in Montreal, Canada. They found a box (this attic was full of treasures and many things went to a museam in Montreal) They opened up the box and found it containing two matching pairs of a fintlock dueling pistols. I don't have the box as my father kept the one gun and his cousin kept the other. My father had the gun in his desk and told me the story. I now have the gun and am trying to figure out its exact origon.

I am going to take some pictures today and add them to this post. I was just wondering if there was some here who may be able to help me figure out what I have here.

Thanks
David

http://i15.tinypic.com/850qbuo.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/6nqmg44.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/725vers.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/73lizvn.jpg

http://i3.tinypic.com/85wmtm8.jpg

http://i4.tinypic.com/6pywt29.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/8aktgqv.jpg

David;

I wouldn't call it a "duelling pistol" per se, as it really isn't, and most weren't even in the day. It's a horse pistol, also called a holster pistol, designed to be carried (in pairs of course) in large pommel holsters slung over the front of a saddle while riding a horse. So rather than being something very rare and unusual, it's (pardon the term) a fairly pedestrian horse pistol.

From the looks of it, it follows basic early-18th Century Continental lines, such as were popular in France, Germany, the Netherlands and even England in that era. Such pistols would range in calibre from around .55" to as large as .70", usually around .60 or so. It also looks to have seen a lot of use and abuse over the years. Judging from the photo's however, I would venture to hazard the guess that it actually isn't European at all however, but of Balkans or perhaps Turkish origin, probably in the early to mid-19th Century. Such items were very popular there (and in fact some of them WERE original French, English and German pieces that were simply shunted off into service there when they had become unfashionable in their birthplace) and continued to be made well into the 19th Century as tourist items as well.

I'm not saying that your pistol IS a 19th Century Balkans "reproduction" of an 18th Century European piece, but it could well be. In any event, its got a cool family history now, no matter what the origins of it, and its mate are. I hope that you've tried to track that one down, who knows, between the two firearms, and the memories of the two gentlemen involved, more information may come to light.

Good luck, and

Cheers!

Gordon

Hi Gordon

Well thanks for the information I really don't know so I thought I would ask. It is hard to find anyone who has much knowledge on this type of thing. I believe the great grandfather was an entrepenoir who did some world travel (I think I may heard something like this anyways) So what you say could also be very possible. I am sure it is not a fake whatever it is.

There is no maker name on it that I can find so it is impossible to track. I think many years ago- I had a civil war historian say it could be of Turkish origon and another one said Mexican.

I never new about horse pistol that is very interesting thank you for taking the time to try and help me determine what I have. It is greatly apprecieated.


Happy New year and Cheers to you also

David

David;

Happy to be of some help to you. I'm sure it's not of Mexican make, but probably of Balkan/Turkish origin. Whatever it is, I'm sure it was well used, and well loved by the original owner(s), and that the pair your Grandfather picked up were very interesting to him. Too bad he didn't leave any info on them!

Happy New Year, and

Cheers!

Gordon