What the heck is this? - The Firearms Forum

BearGFR · 02-24-2010, 06:57 PM

A friend of mine asked me to help him identify this gun.
It looks to be a percussion vest pistol of some sort.
The trigger and grips are missing and looks like it may have had a trigger guard at one time.
The only markings I can find on it are the numerals, "961", on the left side.
It has a smooth bore and measures out to be approximately .30 caliber.

Can anyone help identify this gun?

Thanks much,

Robert

A few photos (I hope):

Jim K · 02-24-2010, 09:23 PM

It could be old, but the crudely stamped number* indicates that it is likely a modern gun or kit gun of the type sold by Dixie and others. IMHO, it is worth little or nothing unless someone just wants to fool around and try to get it working. We can see what others say.

*Old guns, with exceptions like S&W or Colt, just didn't have serial numbers, but many makers today, even of muzzle loading repros, will put them on. Of course, with no maker name and no other ID, the serial number doesn't do much, but it is there.

Jim

bigiron1 · 02-24-2010, 10:56 PM

Not sure but it is HUGE!!! At least in the pics I am seeing.

Zane71464 · 02-25-2010, 04:35 AM

No input here, other then that is "one close up shot"!

Buffalochip · 02-25-2010, 07:16 AM

Appears to be an old screw-barrel percussion pistol. The barrel screws off to load the charge and seat the barrel then you screw the barrel back on and the lightly oversize ball forms a seal. It probably did have a trigger guard at one time.

It looks to be an original, probably not worth much as it was inexpensive and of simple construction. You could put grips on it. Dixie Gun Works may have parts. Search for "screw barrel."

45Auto · 02-25-2010, 12:13 PM

1850's through 1880's vintage, made in the U.S. It's a type of cheap pistol made by various American manufacturers, some big some small. It's uncommon to find one with the maker's name on it. If you look through Flyderman's American Firearms Guide you might find out who made it. These pistols are usually not all that valuable.

Jim K · 02-25-2010, 02:50 PM

Actually, most pistols of that era made by anything approaching a factory, ARE marked; unmarked ones are usually one-offs made by a local blacksmith and essentially of no value, even though undoubtedly old. And those don't have serial numbers for the obvious reason that there was no serial production.

Also, I don't see an indication that it is a screw barrel gun, though there may be wrench slots IN the muzzle. A screw barrel of that length would be unusual, though not unknown. Screw barrel pistols, while common in England in the flintlock era, were not at all common in America.

If I were able to actually see the gun, I might feel differently, but for now I stand by my belief that it is modern, possibly a "kit gun" that was never fully assembled.

Jim

TheGunClinger · 02-25-2010, 06:46 PM

Wow! I think that you guys that answered have a MUCH bigger PC than me!

Jim K · 02-26-2010, 12:44 PM

Speaking of that, BearGFR, could you possibly crop your pictures and also reduce the pixel count to something reasonable (100k bytes or so). Little resolution is lost and the pics won't take a long time to download or exceed available working memory.

If you have Photoshop, or one of the other photo editors, the reduction is easy.

We will appreciate it.

Thanks

Jim

wpage · 03-25-2010, 06:11 PM

Big Gun!

02-24-2010, 06:57 PM	#1
BearGFR Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Garland, Texas Posts: 1	What the heck is this? A friend of mine asked me to help him identify this gun. It looks to be a percussion vest pistol of some sort. The trigger and grips are missing and looks like it may have had a trigger guard at one time. The only markings I can find on it are the numerals, "961", on the left side. It has a smooth bore and measures out to be approximately .30 caliber. Can anyone help identify this gun? Thanks much, Robert A few photos (I hope): -->

02-24-2010, 09:23 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: What the heck is this? It could be old, but the crudely stamped number* indicates that it is likely a modern gun or kit gun of the type sold by Dixie and others. IMHO, it is worth little or nothing unless someone just wants to fool around and try to get it working. We can see what others say. *Old guns, with exceptions like S&W or Colt, just didn't have serial numbers, but many makers today, even of muzzle loading repros, will put them on. Of course, with no maker name and no other ID, the serial number doesn't do much, but it is there. Jim

02-24-2010, 10:56 PM	#3
bigiron1 Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 12	Re: What the heck is this? Not sure but it is HUGE!!! At least in the pics I am seeing.

02-25-2010, 04:35 AM	#4
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,372	Re: What the heck is this? No input here, other then that is "one close up shot"! __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

02-25-2010, 07:16 AM	#5
Buffalochip Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 754	Re: What the heck is this? Appears to be an old screw-barrel percussion pistol. The barrel screws off to load the charge and seat the barrel then you screw the barrel back on and the lightly oversize ball forms a seal. It probably did have a trigger guard at one time. It looks to be an original, probably not worth much as it was inexpensive and of simple construction. You could put grips on it. Dixie Gun Works may have parts. Search for "screw barrel."

02-25-2010, 12:13 PM	#6
45Auto Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,121	Re: What the heck is this? 1850's through 1880's vintage, made in the U.S. It's a type of cheap pistol made by various American manufacturers, some big some small. It's uncommon to find one with the maker's name on it. If you look through Flyderman's American Firearms Guide you might find out who made it. These pistols are usually not all that valuable.

02-25-2010, 02:50 PM	#7
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: What the heck is this? Actually, most pistols of that era made by anything approaching a factory, ARE marked; unmarked ones are usually one-offs made by a local blacksmith and essentially of no value, even though undoubtedly old. And those don't have serial numbers for the obvious reason that there was no serial production. Also, I don't see an indication that it is a screw barrel gun, though there may be wrench slots IN the muzzle. A screw barrel of that length would be unusual, though not unknown. Screw barrel pistols, while common in England in the flintlock era, were not at all common in America. If I were able to actually see the gun, I might feel differently, but for now I stand by my belief that it is modern, possibly a "kit gun" that was never fully assembled. Jim

02-25-2010, 06:46 PM	#8
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,386	Re: What the heck is this? Wow! I think that you guys that answered have a MUCH bigger PC than me! __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

02-26-2010, 12:44 PM	#9
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: What the heck is this? Speaking of that, BearGFR, could you possibly crop your pictures and also reduce the pixel count to something reasonable (100k bytes or so). Little resolution is lost and the pics won't take a long time to download or exceed available working memory. If you have Photoshop, or one of the other photo editors, the reduction is easy. We will appreciate it. Thanks Jim

03-25-2010, 06:11 PM	#10
wpage Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,471	Re: What the heck is this? Big Gun! __________________ "You shall recieve power" Acts 1:8 W