Brace of SXS Pistols~~~HOWDAH~~~

[jpc]

Sequentially numbered
Bore measures .750 or 11 gauge (coated with grease-mostly dry now)
Barrels 10"
Weight 2 3/4 lbs each
Belgian Proof Marked
Nicely finished, fine checkering and brass cap holders
Appear to be in original finish
As found and uncleaned by me (aggressive cleaning to barrels)
No box--No history
They are a handful to hold

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[tiriaq]

Remarkable!

 

[jpc]

Remarkable!

Thanks and it was an effort to remove the barrels. Everything is extremely tight.
Unfortunately poor storage has affected the barrel finish

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

You find some great stuff JPC - very nice.

 

[jpc]

Thanks 'BigBore'
Still working on the proof marks
I cannot remember the 'Asterisk over Letters'
*R *H

 

[tacfoley]

Not an asterisk, but a star - post 1877 inspector's mark. 18.8 and 18.9 = nominal bore diameter in mm.

tac

 

[jpc]

Thanks tac☺

 

[infidel29]

That's awesome! That would be intimidating as hell to stare down the ends of those barrels...

 

[jpc]

^^^

 

[jpc]

I only wish they were howdah pistols............

 

[sgt.rock]

I would almost kill for one of those (or at least I would MAIM). They look awesome. What a conversation piece they are. Congrats. Are they able to be shot or strictly "looky-loo's" ??

 

[jpc]

I would almost kill for one of those (or at least I would MAIM). They look awesome. What a conversation piece they are. Congrats. Are they able to be shot or strictly "looky-loo's" ??

They seem solid in every way.
Once I get the grease out of the barrel I will find out

 

[vagrantviking]

Beautiful find! I'm seriously jealous.

Looking forward to hearing how they shoot.

 

[3#cannon]

Original Hand cannon!!

 

[plinker 777]

What is to go in the grip? Patches, caps? And how are they not Howda pistols? (I thought "Howda" was a style {like 1911} rather than an actual maker)

 

[freezer filler]

Those are sweet! Very nice addition to the collection!

 

[jpc]

"What is to go in the grip? Patches, caps? And how are they not Howda pistols? (I thought "Howda" was a style {like 1911} rather than an actual maker)"


Percussion caps are stored in the grip


☺☺Possibly you are right about them being Howdah Pistols -- any other opinions ???☺☺

 

[rgbai]

I would say definitely qualify as a howdah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howdah_pistol

http://firearmshistory.########.ca/2010/12/pistols-howdah-pistols.html

 

[jpc]

^^^

Appreciate the articles and thank you ☺

jpc

 

[mooncoon]

it seemed to me that the Wikipedia description partially contradicted itself. It began by saying the pistols were made for protection against lions and tigers but by the end of the article said that howdah pistols were replaced by more practical guns such as the 455 Webley revolvers. I would not consider the 455 Webley to be of much use against a lion or tiger. The trade off comes with the question of how effective were the original howdah pistols to start with. The unquestioned guns that I have seen were rifled 58 caliber percussion and with those in mind, my impression is that they probably were not very effective unless loaded with a heavy charge of powder; say 60 or more grains of 3F powder. I remember pressing the muzzle of a 58 cal pocket pistol against a piece of 2x2" cedar and firing it. With 30 grains of powder, the ball only penetrated 1/2 ball deep and stuck there with half of the ball outside the wood. Howdah pistols had longer barrels that my pocket pistol but I wonder how heavy a load could they shoot without simply blowing unburnt powder out of the barrel

cheers mooncoon