Tacticool

Antique Derringer's, Muff Pistols & Spur Trigger Pocket Revolvers

 My  little guns: Bliss & Goodyear "Protector" . 32 Rim-Fire Spur Trigger Pocket Revolver & Belgian Double Barrel  Boxlock Percussion "Muff" Pistol...

The following are an assortment of late 19th Century Civilian "self-defense" sidearms, mostly chambered for .22 caliber, .32 caliber, 38 caliber & .41 caliber Rimfire cartridge ammunition.

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

Antique SXS Double Barrel Boxlock Percussion Muzzleloader "Muff" Pistol circa.1850

 

Belgian Boxlock SXS Double Barrel  Pocket Percussion muzzleloader  Pistol (circa.1850)

.45 caliber, 2" long smoothbore barrels

Hardwood stock and some engraving on the Boxlock, trigger guard and upper & lower tangs.

Black powder or alternatives like Pyrodex, #11 percussion cap ignition and a lubricated patched ball or bullet.

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Underhammer Muzzleloading Black Powder Guns

The 19th Century was a period of incredible innovation, especially regarding firearm development.
The "Underhammer" action is in my opinion, the most elegantly designed ignition system ever developed for Muzzleloading guns.

With very few simple parts, this type of gun is reliable and durable.
Plus, the action is under the barrel, so the sightline is unobscured, and Underhammer pistols were used by competitive target shooters.

There were many different Underhammer designs, and they were all very simple, easy to use and maintain.

DIY Gunsmiths are still making Underhammer Muzzleloading pistols and rifles to this day!

I am building my own Underhammer pistol that is only intended to set off caps and not fire any type of projectile. Over the coming months I plan to document the building process here on my blog.
I am considering using an Underhammer action for a homemade single shot airgun that I am also in the process of building.
Canadian firearm law doesn't allow me to legal build a projectile firing black powder pistol, but a non-firing, cap gun is within the legal framework of CDN gun laws.

Black Powder Caplock Muzzleloader Antique Guns

North American Caplock muzzleloader, 18 gauge(.647cal.) /20" smoothbore  barrel. Circa 1830-40

J. Bourne & Son SXS 12 gauge Caplock muzzleloading English Coachgun/Shotgun
2 x 22" barrels / .729 caliber bore or 12 gauge
Made in Birmingham, England
Circa.1840-45

Flobert-style  .50 caliber muzzleloader handgun
10" smoothbore barrel
 #11 Percussion cap "center-fire" hammer fired single action
Circa 1870?

Flobert guns were typically chambered for 6mm or 9mm "flobert" cartridge ammunition.
They were popular low powered,  indoor target shooting guns and backyard/garden guns for plinking and shooting small pests and vermin.
I can't find any reference online to this type of muzzleloader handgun made with a flobert action, and a modified flobert rifle stock.
It may have been someone's custom gun  project, but I'll never know for sure.
I did also buy an antique  flobert shoulder stock in but the action didn't fit properly into the shoulder stock.

One day the global pandemic will be over, and I will have some fun blasting soup cans with these relics from the 19th century.

Volcanic Repeating Arms Pistol would make an AMAZING replica Air Pistol!!!

I have always wanted to see Umarex, Crosman and other Airgun manufacturers release replicas of 19th century firearms, especially certain firearms like the Volcanic Repeating Arms Pistol!

Smith & Wesson worked on this handgun, which was chambered in .31 caliber rimfire  and .41 caliber rimfire, and it's ammo were lead bullets with powder and primer built into the base of the bullet.

The Volcanic pistol was a commercial failure, mainly due to its lack of power, but the lever action mechanism was later perfected  and evolved into the Lever action rifles made by Winchester.

Hopefully someday there will be an Airgun replica.

The gun pictured is a non-firing, fully functional replica that I owned for a while, but recently sold on gunpost.ca, and it's someone else's turn to appreciate this amazing bit of history.

Even more interesting Improvised Modified Homemade Firearms from around the World