[irishpj]

Hi there, newbie here.:confused:
I came across this parlor/saloon pistol, it has me a little confused. Its a centerfire and has a large bore.
Has the crown over B and crown over U
has the serial # 8
I hope the picture post here,,,,any info on age and value would help,,,,,
Thanks
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/Irishpjm/GUNpics038.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/Irishpjm/GUNpics039.jpg

:confused:

[SDC]

It's a German "parlour pistol" made for indoor target shooting (back when that sort of thing wouldn't get you the fuzzy eyeball from your neighbours); there may be some more info under the grips or hidden under the patina, but you'd probably need a chamber cast to get the proper calibre.

[MachIVshooter]

but you'd probably need a chamber cast to get the proper calibre.

And from the looks of it, such information would be best used on a plaque to which the pistol is mounted. Doesn't look like it is in any condition to be fired safely.

[irishpj]

I dont plan on shooting it. Its just a collectors item.I was hoping someone would know about what year it was made, value,ect. Its a hair over .32 and under.38.
thanks all....

[Onmilo]

It is probably chambered for the 8mm bulleted breech cap centerfire.
If you know what a .22 BB Cap looks like then imagine a larger version.
These used a rifle size berdan primer and no powder charge to propel a .32 caliber round ball out of a very short brass cartridge case at something like 450-500 feet per second velocity.
The cartridge cases were reloadable.

[irishpj]

So, I'm guessing around the early 1800's??

[Ron James]

Try late 1800s.

[pete f]

an alternative name was a pub gun. instead of darts, it was a game of indoor gallery shooting.

[rockstar.esq]

In a coffee table book I own there are some similar ones depicted and the caption explains that many of them fired a black powder cap which propelled a wooden projectile for the purpose of "Pub Shooting". I can just see a few drunken folks trying to whittle enough projectiles to see who's buying the next round...

My initial thought is that it looks Belgian, however I am no expert. Seems most of the German guns of that era sported more silver than their cheaper Belgian contemporaries.

[Jim Watson]

Crown B - Crown U (no Crown G?) are German proofmarks.

Never heard the wooden bullet story, but it makes sense. There were several European gimmicks for indoor shooting before air guns reached modern accuracy levels.

[CampSpringy]

Hopefully the photo of my pistol came thru. It shows the marking under the barrel as drawn and read normal with barrel pointing up. There is a number "78" on the underside of the ejector handle that has a line thru the 7, parallel to the top of the 7, which is consistant to European style.

The pistol is a rim fire. The breach has a circular recess for a flange on the cartridge. The firing pin is on the high side of the barrel opening with a small recess on the breach so part of the pin doesn't hit the breach outside of the rim recess. It appears to be a .22 cal but not sure. The handle is Gutta Percha. No identification under the handle except for a number.

The hammer has half and full cock positions. I wouldn't want to be loading with the hammer at full cock. I can push on the hammer in the half-cock position and it will slam against the breach plate. Bang!! Probalby worn.

I would assume it is a full cartridge since there is no ram for a ball. A ball would require a blank. The ball would have be inserted at the breach or down the barrel from the end.

If any knows, along with who made this pistol, what is the value. I would consider my pistol as very good, maybe good plus. Thank you.

[hksw]

From the reference I have, the crown B is the proofmark for the finished barrel (single proof charge), crown U is the Untersuchungsstempel proofmark indicating the barrel has been inspected or examined. Crown G is the proofmark for rifled barrels.