Anyone know anything about this musket?

JOHN THURSTON is back and eager to discuss Western Martial Arts, especially relating to its history.

Moderator: JOHN THURSTON

Post Reply
User avatar
gmattson
Site Admin
Posts: 6069
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Contact:

Anyone know anything about this musket?

Post by gmattson »

I was given this by a friend who had it in the family for a long time, but she didn't know anything about its history.

Image

Image

It was hung on a wall as a decoration for as long as my friend remembers. (she is 78 years young) and the parts won't move. It looks real, but there are no visible markings on it.
Last edited by gmattson on Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
Hugh
Posts: 595
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Virginia

Post by Hugh »

I am sorry, but I am not able to bring up the pictures as you posted them. Please check your use of the url codes.
Trying to Walk in the Light, Hugh
1 John 1:5
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

Wow,
Looks like a dueling pistol. Wish I had friends like that.

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
User avatar
gmattson
Site Admin
Posts: 6069
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Contact:

Hugh..

Post by gmattson »

I was able to view the images on another computer as well as mine; however, as I copied the url, there were additional code that wasn't needed.

Can you see the pictures now?
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
User avatar
gmattson
Site Admin
Posts: 6069
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Contact:

care and preservation tips??

Post by gmattson »

the pistol appears to be real, but the moving parts are locked with age and some rust. The barrel is open but has some rust in it as well.

Any suggestions for cleaning it? Is it worth taking to an expert to clean?

Thanks for any tips.
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

Don't do a thing with it until an expert looks it over. You could dramatically reduce the value.

I found this guy on the Antiques roadshow website. He may help or offer someone to contact. They normally have credible experts.

Grenadier Military Antiques
Phone: 818-240-1411
Fax:
Email: bbh1122@aol.com
On the Web: http://grenadiermilitaryantiques.com

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
User avatar
gmattson
Site Admin
Posts: 6069
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Contact:

thanks Fred

Post by gmattson »

I let you know what they say.
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

Try here too. Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. On my list of places to visit.

http://www.nps.gov/spar/

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
User avatar
gmattson
Site Admin
Posts: 6069
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Contact:

Fred...

Post by gmattson »

I followed your advice to contact:
Grenadier Military Antiques
Phone: 818-240-1411
Fax:
Email: bbh1122@aol.com
On the Web: http://grenadiermilitaryantiques.com


Received this prompt reply this morning:
Dear George:

This is a 19th century "trade pistol" these were made in the north African, Arab style, and use for trading with tribesman in those regions. most were made in Italy, and southern Europe. some were only used as decoration as well, and are non-working. they have a low collectors value. say $200.00 to $500.00

Hope this helps,
Bruce
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

Interesting,
I thought the bottom of the handle was not typical of western Europe and certainly not U.S.
Of course cleaned up it could still lose value.
Now that Van knows it's an Italian gun you'll have to hide it away! LOL.
Nice conversation piece for sure.

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
JOHN THURSTON
Posts: 2445
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 1998 6:01 am
Location: MARSHFIELD, MA. USA
Contact:

Checking

Post by JOHN THURSTON »

I will check my miniscule library, but I dout I will fiind out much more.


John
"All Enlightenment Gratefully Accepted"
JOHN THURSTON
Posts: 2445
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 1998 6:01 am
Location: MARSHFIELD, MA. USA
Contact:

Not Found

Post by JOHN THURSTON »

the design is some what typical of 16th Century Common Handguns, Scots and Cromwells "Roundhead" cavalry would have carried a pistol resembling the one Pictured.


Online sources may be of some help, but I often opt for the restoration if it will not actully reduce the value of the item-go ahed, but be mindful that you may chamging a $1000 pistol into a 500 pistol, which is fine.

This is assumning the guns is not collector grade and is fireareable or attractive enough to clean up.

Frankly, I would leave it alone, except for some minor cleanup

Bruces's comments seem on the money and I have posted an Italian pistol pic from the period.

Outwardly the piece resembles some 16th Scottish designs and I will post one.

But I could not find and clear replication of the weapon in my library.



I am inserting several pics that come close to the design of the arm, which would seem to indicate, with the comments of your gunsmith, that the weapon is a 'trade" gun of o copy theory.

The real Italian pistols of this design would be quite valuable.

Obviously Flatyderman's Gun Value Guide does not cover this period.

However, the shape is remininscent of those used shown in cavalry training pictures dating from the time of the "New Model Army----but I do thoink it is on of those, even a set of armor from that period found in Roanoke was quite deteriorated.

I will just post some pics for an old history of the gun.

But, based on the pic an the opinion received, i would do anything yet.


Image
Image

Other comments: The weapon is detiorateed and has been bound together twice with wire.

There is some evidence of good constructction and ornamentation.

I am going to sau just clean it up by hand a little and see what happens.
Last edited by JOHN THURSTON on Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:58 am, edited 2 times in total.
"All Enlightenment Gratefully Accepted"
User avatar
Van Canna
Posts: 57244
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am

Clean it might look like this

Post by Van Canna »

Image :wink:
Van
JOHN THURSTON
Posts: 2445
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 1998 6:01 am
Location: MARSHFIELD, MA. USA
Contact:

In

Post by JOHN THURSTON »

In Our Dreams :D
"All Enlightenment Gratefully Accepted"
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

And Sensei Mattson would look like this weilding it.

Image

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
Post Reply

Return to “Western Martial Arts & History”