A Couple of Purchases

tiriaq

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First is a little Belgian 7mm pinfire revolver. Haven't had a pinfire revolver in my collection for 40 years or more. Sound functional condition, crisp action, decent bore, no finish to speak of, apart from the almost 100% original varnish on the walnut grips. Was dirty, cleaned up very nicely. Ejector rod and front sight are missing, but replacing these will be easy. Making some cartridges will be the challenge.
Second is an Allen's pepperbox, patent date is 1845. First pepperbox I've owned. Smaller size, looks to be about .31, 6 shot. Needs some mechanical help. Trigger revolves and indexes the barrels, but the hammer action needs attention. There is a piece which connects the trigger, hammer and mainspring. The one present is homemade, looks relatively recently made, but it is just plain wrong mechanically. I am sure I can make a better part, although a decent photo of one of these pistols with the sideplate removed would help. All original nipples are present. Should be able to restore it to functional, or even shooting condition. About antique good, has extensive light pitting. Haven't scrubbed out the bores yet, although being smoothbores, bore condition wouldn't affect shooting much.
 
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rgbai - Thanks for the link. That's it, barrel profile is slightly different, but everything else is the same.
With my dialup connection, I have found that uploading photos to a hosting site is painfully slow. Gave up. If anyone is interested in photos, pm your emailing address, and I will send them.
 
Here ya go...posted for Tiriaq...

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Ive never seen the internals of a pepperbox...gotta love the simplicity of the double action mechanism.
 
Thanks for posting the photos!
In the shot of the pepperbox innards, the hand, hand spring and handspring screw are absent. Had torn the mechanism down for cleaning and inspection. The piece engaging the trigger is a replacement and is incorrect. There should be a link connecting it to the mainspring, and its geometry is wrong. It will only lift the hammer about 1/4". The pins on which the trigger and hammer pivot are blind. You pull them out - there is a little groove in the pin, accessed using the little groove beside the pin heads. Fortunately these were not seized; would have been a misery working on the mechanism if the pins were rusted in place.
 
Went out to the shop today, and made and hardened a new connector piece. I think it will work fine. First real gunsmithing I've done since being discharged from hospital on June 3rd. Made an ejector rod for the pinfire last week, but that doesn't really count - just a rod with a little knob on the end, using bits from the junk box. Tomorrow I will make the link which connects this piece to the mainspring. The bores measure .315", using a digital caliper. Little guy might be shootable tomorrow.
 
Went out to the shop today, and made and hardened a new connector piece. I think it will work fine. First real gunsmithing I've done since being discharged from hospital on June 3rd. Made an ejector rod for the pinfire last week, but that doesn't really count - just a rod with a little knob on the end, using bits from the junk box. Tomorrow I will make the link which connects this piece to the mainspring. The bores measure .315", using a digital caliper. Little guy might be shootable tomorrow.

Its great fun getting the old guns working Again.
Anyone with money can buy a minty perfect one, not so many can fix one up in need of TLC!
I enjoy fixing up old guns to.
I have bought a few Wall hangers that turned into EX shooters.

Keep up the good work! :)
 
My first shooting antique was a Belgian double I bought at an auction, missing its locks, for $4.50. This was in the '60s. Made a pair of locks, seriously proofed it, hunted with it for a number of seasons. Still remember the first grouse I tumbled with it.
 
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