My Antique Percussion Muzzleloading Guns....

My favorite type of firearms  are Cap-lock Percussion Muzzleloaders, and I own two long guns and 2 handguns that load from the muzzle & use percussion caps for ignition.

First is a unique side-lock, single shot with a 20" long, 18 gauge smoothbore barrel that was dated to 1830-40, and probably made in North America, according to the antique gun dealer/collector who sold it to me.

The next antique gun is the first antique firearm that I purchased.

It is easily identified as being made by Bourne & Son in Birmingham, England, circa 1840-45, a genuine one of a kind, English Coach Gun!

                                            12 gauge

                                             SXS double barrels(22" length) 

                                             Side-Lock Action

Bourne & Son, Birmingham, England, circa-1840-45 : 12 gauge SXS double barrel English Coach Gun

Double barrel percussion Boot/muff Pistol, .46 caliber.

Looks like a Belgian made pistol, circa.1850's, except there are  no proof marks, or makers branding.

 

Antique percussion Muzzleloading Pistol, circa 1870

Appears to be custom made "one of a kind" from parts of a flobert rifle, and converted into a .50 caliber smoothbore  in-line percussion muzzleloader pistol 

Researching an Antique Arms collection...

 Three quarters of the time I spend on my Antique firearms hobby is spent reading books & periodicals, searching through photographs and online resources.

I discovered how to properly disassemble the Remington-Smoot #2 revolver from the original directions printed on the box the Revolver was packaged in.

I found the picture of the box label within the Standard Catalog of Remington Firearms Book.

The Norwich Pistol Co. "Protector" .32RF Revolver wasn't as difficult to research as other "Spur trigger" Revolvers, as it has a Patent date and tradename engraved on the barrel.

I discovered that a Hardware sales & distribution company called Maltby, Curtis & Co. founded the Norwich Pistol Co.

My "Pocket Pistols" from the 19th Century

 This Norwich Pistol Co. "Suicide Special" type of .32 caliber rimfire revolver was the first antique revolver that I owned.

Norwich Pistol Co. "Protector" single action spur trigger revolver circa 1880's  & Belgian double barrel Muff pistol circa 1850's