Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? - The Firearms Forum

mvaldes · 11-16-2009, 09:08 PM

I bought this pistol recently as a gift for a friend. All the seller knew was that the lot he bought was owned by a civil war period collector. He didn't know anything about the pieces themselves. Mechanically, all seems to work well. The grips are in good shape, there's a little pitting and some discolored spots but overall it seems pretty good. The only marking I can make out with certainty is "EIDER" which I believe would indicate a Spanish origin. Viewing them through a loupe, on the barrel, the words preceding EIDER seem to be "CUNUCELE GUI" but I can't be absolutely certain of that. The hammers are stamped, but I don't have a clue if it's just a design or if it's a maker's mark. I'm attaching some views in the hope that someone may recognize it, or at least it's genre and period. Thanks in advance for help and/or guidance.

Bill DeShivs · 11-16-2009, 09:21 PM

It was mae in "Eibar" Spain in the early 1900s, probably. The gun uses pinfire ammunition.

mvaldes · 11-17-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

It was mae in "Eibar" Spain in the early 1900s, probably. The gun uses pinfire ammunition.

Thanks Bill. How do you tell when a gun uses pinfire as opposed to percussion ammunition?

Alpo · 11-17-2009, 10:37 AM

See the slots in the top of the chambers? The pin/teat (I've seen them called both pinfire and teatfire) sticks out through that slot, and the hammer hits it.

mvaldes · 11-17-2009, 06:06 PM

Thanks Alpo, I wondered if those were to slide in percussion caps, but it makes more sense for them to fit the pins. I didn't realize that each cartridge came with a pin "installed." I assumed incorrectly that it was more like the modern setup but with a different kind of "fixed" pin.
BTW, this forum is great. If I don't watch out, you guys are going to get me hooked on learning more about these old guns.

mvaldes · 11-18-2009, 08:48 PM

I think I understand now that it's a pretty common pin fire pistol of Spanish manufacture. From what I read on Wikipedia, they pretty much stopped making the pinfire weapons around 1890. Does anyone have any educated guess as to when this pistol was manufactured?

lefaucheux 54 · 11-29-2009, 10:08 AM

Pinfire has been patend by Casimer Lefaucheux around 1830 and was used with revolvers until 1870's and for rifles until the beginning of the 1900's.
Your pistol was probably made arond 1865 / 1870

LF

http://lefaucheux.no-ip.info

mvaldes · 11-29-2009, 08:10 PM

Thank you lefaucheux 54, i hoped it was from around then. The friend I bought it for has a lot of civil war era stuff, so this will sorta fit in.

lefaucheux 54 · 11-30-2009, 04:33 AM

Not much , because it's very commun and made in Spain by thousands.....
It starting to worth something when there is a signature of a great maker on it , like this one

http://www.lesgrosbarbares.info/lefa...ticle&artid=28

LF

http://lefaucheux.no-ip.info

11-16-2009, 09:08 PM	#1
mvaldes Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? I bought this pistol recently as a gift for a friend. All the seller knew was that the lot he bought was owned by a civil war period collector. He didn't know anything about the pieces themselves. Mechanically, all seems to work well. The grips are in good shape, there's a little pitting and some discolored spots but overall it seems pretty good. The only marking I can make out with certainty is "EIDER" which I believe would indicate a Spanish origin. Viewing them through a loupe, on the barrel, the words preceding EIDER seem to be "CUNUCELE GUI" but I can't be absolutely certain of that. The hammers are stamped, but I don't have a clue if it's just a design or if it's a maker's mark. I'm attaching some views in the hope that someone may recognize it, or at least it's genre and period. Thanks in advance for help and/or guidance. --> Last edited by mvaldes; 11-16-2009 at 09:16 PM.. Reason: try to fix image links

11-16-2009, 09:21 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? It was mae in "Eibar" Spain in the early 1900s, probably. The gun uses pinfire ammunition. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

11-17-2009, 10:37 AM	#4
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? See the slots in the top of the chambers? The pin/teat (I've seen them called both pinfire and teatfire) sticks out through that slot, and the hammer hits it. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

11-17-2009, 06:06 PM	#5
mvaldes Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? Thanks Alpo, I wondered if those were to slide in percussion caps, but it makes more sense for them to fit the pins. I didn't realize that each cartridge came with a pin "installed." I assumed incorrectly that it was more like the modern setup but with a different kind of "fixed" pin. BTW, this forum is great. If I don't watch out, you guys are going to get me hooked on learning more about these old guns. Last edited by mvaldes; 11-17-2009 at 06:06 PM.. Reason: grammar

11-18-2009, 08:48 PM	#6
mvaldes Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? I think I understand now that it's a pretty common pin fire pistol of Spanish manufacture. From what I read on Wikipedia, they pretty much stopped making the pinfire weapons around 1890. Does anyone have any educated guess as to when this pistol was manufactured?

11-29-2009, 10:08 AM	#7
lefaucheux 54 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 87	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? Pinfire has been patend by Casimer Lefaucheux around 1830 and was used with revolvers until 1870's and for rifles until the beginning of the 1900's. Your pistol was probably made arond 1865 / 1870 LF http://lefaucheux.no-ip.info

11-29-2009, 08:10 PM	#8
mvaldes Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? Thank you lefaucheux 54, i hoped it was from around then. The friend I bought it for has a lot of civil war era stuff, so this will sorta fit in.

11-30-2009, 04:33 AM	#9
lefaucheux 54 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 87	Re: Antique pistol, any ideas about identifying it? Not much , because it's very commun and made in Spain by thousands..... It starting to worth something when there is a signature of a great maker on it , like this one http://www.lesgrosbarbares.info/lefa...ticle&artid=28 LF http://lefaucheux.no-ip.info