The Firearms Forum banner

Information on restoring old gun

1K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  sharps4590 
#1 ·
My family has an antique gun. From our research we have learned that it's 1800's, hexagon barrel, with a "wheat" engraved design, solid walnut handle. It's missing some pieces. I'm looking for more information to maybe try and restore it. It belonged to my father in laws great great grandfather. Anything else you can add would be awesome. Thank you
 

Attachments

See less See more
1
#2 ·
You will need more, detailed pictures. We need to see ALL of the stampings on the barrel and the lockplate (the thingy that the hammer would have been attached to).

The stampings (proof marks) will tell most of what we need to see in order to tell exactly where it was made, who made it and when it was made. A reference like a ruler or a dime laid next to the muzzle (the hole in the end of the barrel) will give us an idea of what the caliber or size of 'gun' it is.

Depending on who made this pistol, and when it was made, it may not be a good idea to 'restore' it. Unlike furniture, firearms quite often loose much - or even most - of their value by being 'restored'. Great numbers of old guns have been thus ruined. Let's get it checked out before you do anything to it!
 
#3 ·
It's a low cost box lock boot pistol, hard to say where or when it was made unless you can find a proof mark on it and that may not let us know more that a general timeframe.

They didn't sell for a whole lot back then and unless they are in really good condition they don't bring a lot now. As for the missing hammer or any other missing parts you aren't likely to find anything that's going to fit, you'd need to have a skilled craftsman hand make it and fit it to the pistol.

That kind of work will cost you far more than the pistol would be worth.

My best advice would be to keep it lightly oiled, mount it in a shadow box and just leave it as it is.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top