Belgian made ELG Pistol (Muzzle Loader & Percussion Cap) mid 1800's?

Nice condition,but not a dueling pistol, dating from as early as 1830s to 1850s or later. A cheap pistol in that quality pieces had maker's name, more decorative engraving & carved wood. Cheapness may mean it is not a turn-off type that the barrel screws off to load. A simple pocket pistol ------>

 

Looks like a screw off barrel

 

rhmc posted, simply a period self defense pistol. Not even a cousin to a dueling pistol, the engraving is " bench engraving " done quick and dirty right at the beanch at the time the pistol was construed by the same worker . I also think it is a screw barrel ( google it ) w Need to see the end of the barrel to say yea or nay. The pistol seems to be in good condition and probably worth a couple hundred but otherwise a common piece of that era . There is no model name or number for that type of pistol, and the time period is as stated.

 

I don't believe there's any question it's pre-1898. 1898 is well into the cartridge era and I doubt those were even being made by then. As has been mentioned they were cheapies even for their time.

 

ELG isn't a firearms corporation, that oval with those letters is the proof mark of the Liege proofing house, all guns passing proof will have that mark stamped on them.

Your little pistol pre dates 1877 because the inspectors mark , the letter with a crown over it, was changed to a letter with a star over it in that year.

 

Unfortunately I think you did. That comes to 307.00 US dollars.

 

Then again, it cost almost 200 dollars ( what ever that is in pounds sterling ), no Euros wanted thank you and no Yankee dollars, pounds sterling only for a van from Heathrow to London

 

Yes thats on the high side if we compare it to auction prices. But note that You bought it in an antique store thats what they ask for these pistols in antique stores in the Netherlands. It appears to be in a good condition though. And "overpaying" depends on what value that it has for You, if i would conpare all my buys with actual trading prices i would almost always overpay.