dueling pistols

**partsman** · August 20th, 2011, 06:57 PM

not sure if this is the right section but here goes, i picked up a set of identical cap an ball single shot pistols the barrels appear to be damascus no rifeling about dime sized bore. the only marking on the barrel is a crown with 2 crossed palm leaves and then 3 stars under the palm stems. there is also an odd style 52 circled next to the crown an palm leaves.
i guess they are whats called derringer style

i have been calling all over and nobody can tell me anything i have no clue on how to post pics i will gladly email them to somebody any help would be greatly appreciated

**gnbrotz** · August 20th, 2011, 07:13 PM

http://forum.pafoa.org/support-sugge...-pictures.html

**partsman** · August 20th, 2011, 09:11 PM

see if this works

**partsman** · August 20th, 2011, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by gnbrotz

http://forum.pafoa.org/support-sugge...-pictures.html

thank you, i think i got it, but there all turned ..........

**partsman** · August 20th, 2011, 11:10 PM

even if you dont know what they are, if you can point me in the direction of somebody who does would help.....

**39flathead** · August 21st, 2011, 01:55 AM

The picture is a bit unclear(and upside down), but the mark appears to be French, St. Etienne proof house.

Some white crayon rubbed into the mark and a right side up shot may help.

I'm no expert, but I'd bet they are French, 69 caliber, made in 1852.
(or a good set of replicas)

Edit to add/clarify:
.69 Caliber was the European military standard. These are possibly just a pair of old military pistols, not an actual dueling set.

If you want to disassemble them, removing the rod and driving out the wedge pin should be all that's required.

**TJB63** · August 21st, 2011, 12:19 PM

Partsman,

Have you removed the action from the stocks to look for anymore markings?

I'm no expert at all, But I would think as Duelers they would have longer barrels and be better polished, the barrels seem to have been very poorly or very hastily finished, I've seen this in Kit guns you could buy and finish yourself, part of that was polishing/bluing the metal.

They could also be copies made in a third world country like India or so, Or they could be the real thing, just not well made. Those that made Duelers back in the day took Great pride in making Highly Finished firearms usually (But not always) with finely detailed inlay of both metal & wood.

Good Luck in figuring it out, I would search out some Black Powder specific Forums on Google and see where it goes from there.

TJB

**partsman** · August 21st, 2011, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by TJB63

Partsman,

Have you removed the action from the stocks to look for anymore markings?

I'm no expert at all, But I would think as Duelers they would have longer barrels and be better polished, the barrels seem to have been very poorly or very hastily finished, I've seen this in Kit guns you could buy and finish yourself, part of that was polishing/bluing the metal.

They could also be copies made in a third world country like India or so, Or they could be the real thing, just not well made. Those that made Duelers back in the day took Great pride in making Highly Finished firearms usually (But not always) with finely detailed inlay of both metal & wood.

Good Luck in figuring it out, I would search out some Black Powder specific Forums on Google and see where it goes from there.

TJB

the pic with the markings is the action out of the stock, the 52 an the stamp are the only markings anywhere on them

as for the duelers i completely agree with you all the ones i have seen have been works of art and these just look run of the mill
i know nothing about this style of firearms, i fired a flintlock once and i dont have the patience for black powder weapons
thanks for your help