Winter 2021-22 Antique Pistol Restoration Project

Antique "Sterling" .38 cal.rimfire restoration project update...

  It seems that I could have bought an E.L.Dickinson "Parts gun" a couple of weeks ago, but I passed, not realizing a the time, th...

Sunday, July 24, 2022

US Patents and my Antique pistols

A few of the antique pistols that I own have  long expired US Patents.



 



Sunday, June 5, 2022

Norwich Falls "PROTECTOR" .32 caliber rimfire Antique Revolver

This was the first antique metallic cartridge firing revolver that I purchased.

The barrel has "Protector" engraved on the top side,  and "Patent'd April 23, 1878" engraved on the left side.

A replacement spring for the part that rotates the cylinder was needed, and it was a quick and simple job to get this revolver working perfectly.

I am not planning to shoot any black powder cartridges with this revolver. 

It was not manufactured to the same quality standards as Colt , S&W & Remington etc...


The Patent date references a patent for the circular left sideplate/hammer axis pin with slot for turnscrew/screwdriver. 

The catalog sales company Maltby, Curtis & Co.  owned the Norwich Falls Pistol Co. in Norwich, Connecticut between 1877-88 which produced the pistols & revolvers that were sold thru M.C & Co. Catalogs.

Today, Collectors refer to this as a "spur trigger revolver", or a "suicide special".



 My Norwich "Protector" is chambered for .32 Long Rim-fire Black Powder cartridges.

It is a single action, spur trigger revolver with a birds head grip and rosewood grip panels.


Saturday, June 4, 2022

Colt New line Pocket revolvers

 


My Colt New Line revolver is the .32 caliber rimfire model, which is the top right in the above advertisement circa.1875


Flitz was the most recommended polish, and with some effort it really did a good job cleaning and protecting the antique nickel finish!



Saturday, May 28, 2022

My own personal "Firearms Curiosa"...


Here's a strange looking muzzleloader handgun...circa.1870
There are no identifying markings, but it strongly resembles the early french  Flobert designs in rifles & pistols made throughout the middle of the 19th century, and when compared to the finish of my other antique's with confirmed dates of manufacture, there is no denying that  the age of the lovely patina that coats all the metal parts is as old as 150 years!
I image that this was a talented person's home workshop project, 19th century "bubba gunsmithing"!!! or perhaps someone hired the local gunsmith to build this piece from a damaged Flobert rimfire rifle or rimfire shotgun?


This is a .50 caliber smoothbore barrel @10 inches long.


The "in-line" percussion system is ahead of its time, and the pistol appears to be built from modified Flobert rifle parts, including the cut down wood stock.


I have safely & successfully shot a muzzleloaded .50 caliber PVC/nylon  Riot-Ball with a cleaning patch wad, no powder, and  only a #11 percussion cap, and the results were 👍
I felt the velocity to be similar to a 400-500 fps airguns muzzle velocity, but only a chronograph test will tell for sure.