Joseph Wilson, Birmingham, Enland gunsmith who was know for making guns and parts for the American marked as well as for others.
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Description
Walnut Stocked Percussion Horse Pistol Circa 1840-50s. Quite possibly an American pistol stocked in American walnut using import parts. The stock has a plain round butt, with one ramrod pipe, one barrel wedge, and a horn nose cap. The iron trigger guard has a pineapple finial, with some engraving on the finial and trigger guard bow.
Overall length is 13.5 inches.
Barrel is 8.5 inches in the octagon, smooth bore, with small silver bead front sigh. Birmingham proofs on underside of barrel, and most likely intended for export. Single barrel wedge with wedge plates.
Bore is .79 Caliber.
Possibly converted from flint, but pitting around drum and cone, match that of the breech area. Lock was originally in flint,
Lock – 4 inches, made by WILSON, has a frizzen spring hole filled, but could have been done in England. Missing the sliding bar lock that held the hammer in safety. Mainspring does not catch with tumbler, the latter being worn down. Missing the interior screw that held the front of lock in place with use of a double pronged hook that would fit under the internal screw head. Joseph Wilson worked in Birmingham, England from 1817 – 1893, “Joseph Wilson became a well known gun maker in Birmingham, He held contracts to ‘Her Majesty’s War Department’ and manufactured guns and gun parts from 1840-1886. He made guns of all types of every description suitable for the African, American and all other markets.”
No side plate with single lock screw and iron round plate.
One small coin sliver escutcheon plate behind barrel tang on upper wrist.
Overall needs some work, but without a pleasing look, and worth the money.
Condition overall is very good, with pitting heaviest on barrel, lighter on other iron furniture most of which has some engraved embellishing. Wood is free of major cracks except for a sliver of wood about 4 inches long from the back of the nose cape back on the left side of stock, with dings here and there. Some wood repair around barrel tang. Horn nose cap has some insect damage on left side. Some tape used to support the weak wood under nose cap.
An appealing looking pistol with little work if any required.
Additional information
| Weight | 4 lbs |
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