flintlock pistol

nancy · 06-01-2010, 10:01 AM

I was told this is a French flintlock pistol, 60 caliber. It is smooth bore, fluted barrel.

Nancy

Zane71464 · 06-01-2010, 10:37 AM

Welcome to the Forum Nancy.
Are there any markings/stampings, etc., on the pistol?

45Auto · 06-01-2010, 11:46 AM

Nothing about this pistol looks right to me. If it was for sale on-line I would not bid on it. My guess is that it's a fake made someplace like North Africa, or Pakistan. They have been cranking out things like this for years to sell to tourists.

nancy · 06-01-2010, 12:30 PM

I have owned this pistol for at least 20 years. It certainly could be a fake. That is why I am here, to try and find out.
On the top of the pistol are three words, all in capital letters, in script. VIRGILIO ROM_AI_ FECIT
We cannot find any numbers on this or any insignias or makers marks. There are three womens heads(you can see one in the above picture), one on either side of the body and one on the underside of the trigger guard.

Jim K · 06-01-2010, 02:53 PM

The name would seem to be Italian. The word "fecit" simply means "made it" in Latin, a common way for a workman of the old days to sign his work.

I checked Armi da Fuoco Italiane for anything like that name, but with no success. I did find several pistols with that general butt shape, all much better made than that one, and all from the Gardone region.

FWIW, my opinion is that it is old, probably 18th century, and was made as a gun, not as a souvenir. I think it was made as a cheap imitation of high quality pistols, for sale to the unsophisticated buyer who had only a general knowledge of what a well-made gun looked like and so would accept some bad engraving as indicative of quality. (Can anyone say "Saturday Night Special" in 18th Century Italian?)

Value? Anyone's guess is as good as mine. Even if it is old, age does not equate to value.

Jim

nancy · 06-02-2010, 07:11 PM

Thanks for your input. I think it is an interesting piece, whether it is truly old, and truly made as a usable pistol, remains to be seen. If it had any value I would have considered selling it but if it does not, I will keep it as a conversation piece.

Nancy

Jim K · 06-02-2010, 09:53 PM

FWIW, I vote for the conversation piece, as I don't think there is much market value. If you want, you might see if there is a gun show in your area and run it by some people with displays of antique guns. I wish I could be of more help, but some guns simply defy attempts at identification and evaluation.

Jim

06-01-2010, 10:01 AM	#1
nancy Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	flintlock pistol I was told this is a French flintlock pistol, 60 caliber. It is smooth bore, fluted barrel. Nancy Attached Images -->

06-01-2010, 10:37 AM	#2
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,350	Re: flintlock pistol Welcome to the Forum Nancy. Are there any markings/stampings, etc., on the pistol? __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

06-01-2010, 11:46 AM	#3
45Auto Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,116	Re: flintlock pistol Nothing about this pistol looks right to me. If it was for sale on-line I would not bid on it. My guess is that it's a fake made someplace like North Africa, or Pakistan. They have been cranking out things like this for years to sell to tourists.

06-01-2010, 12:30 PM	#4
nancy Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	Re: flintlock pistol I have owned this pistol for at least 20 years. It certainly could be a fake. That is why I am here, to try and find out. On the top of the pistol are three words, all in capital letters, in script. VIRGILIO ROM_AI_ FECIT We cannot find any numbers on this or any insignias or makers marks. There are three womens heads(you can see one in the above picture), one on either side of the body and one on the underside of the trigger guard.

06-01-2010, 02:53 PM	#5
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: flintlock pistol The name would seem to be Italian. The word "fecit" simply means "made it" in Latin, a common way for a workman of the old days to sign his work. I checked Armi da Fuoco Italiane for anything like that name, but with no success. I did find several pistols with that general butt shape, all much better made than that one, and all from the Gardone region. FWIW, my opinion is that it is old, probably 18th century, and was made as a gun, not as a souvenir. I think it was made as a cheap imitation of high quality pistols, for sale to the unsophisticated buyer who had only a general knowledge of what a well-made gun looked like and so would accept some bad engraving as indicative of quality. (Can anyone say "Saturday Night Special" in 18th Century Italian?) Value? Anyone's guess is as good as mine. Even if it is old, age does not equate to value. Jim

06-02-2010, 07:11 PM	#6
nancy Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	Re: flintlock pistol Thanks for your input. I think it is an interesting piece, whether it is truly old, and truly made as a usable pistol, remains to be seen. If it had any value I would have considered selling it but if it does not, I will keep it as a conversation piece. Nancy

06-02-2010, 09:53 PM	#7
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: flintlock pistol FWIW, I vote for the conversation piece, as I don't think there is much market value. If you want, you might see if there is a gun show in your area and run it by some people with displays of antique guns. I wish I could be of more help, but some guns simply defy attempts at identification and evaluation. Jim