Harley Davidson BP Pistol

An acquaintance acquired several and wants to know if they are worth anything. Not a lot of information on them on the Internet.

Well, if they're anything like their bikes they'll be crap.

Fred.

Are you sure of the name? Could they be some H-D promotional gimmick? Harley does not make guns and AFAIK, never did.

A picture would help.

Jim

I'm with Fred & Jim - I've never heard of Harley Davidson making guns, and even if they did, I'd never buy one. YMMV.

H-D has done a lot of promotional things over the years, but I have never seen a BP pistol. This may have been done at the Dealer level. Now if it was an 'Indian' pistol I would be all over it.

Bet it leaks oil!:neener:

I have seen lots of crap with Harley Davidson stamped on it, some licensed, some not, but most of it crap.

If there was a H-D BP revolver, was it made in America? My cousin rides Harleys hogs (he has two or three) and says a lot of parts are now made in the Workers' Paradise in China.

Pictures would help, especially import stampings...

http://www.antiquesofrepublic.com/zzharleydavidson.html

There are some pics of the pistol. Apparently it's a .44 Kentucky percussion pistol.

every second igniton will be a dud, i bet.

a trike from an ancient Harley with a Maxim MG on it would be more credible.

Clearly marked as Italian made, as are most low and medium price muzzleloaders.

Depending on whether the date code in the box is really AI or AL, it was made in 1982 or 1983.

Few of these "commemoratives" are worth much more than a plain functional gun of the type. He might could sell it (them) to a non-enthusiast of firearms but HOG type biker for more than the basic market price... if he doesn't try to gyp a Hell's Angel.

I think someone had Harley Davidson engraved on the sideplate. That the engraving doesn't look too good is the clue.

With the HD as a serial# prefix I would say it was made as a commemorative. Defarbed and a new side plate would make it a nice looking pistol.

I'd shoot it.

The inletting on the HD plate is very crude as opposed to the much better inletting on the lock plate on the right side of the pistol. It looks to me like the HD plate was added by someone other than the pistol manufacturer. It does look like a nice pistol though, the walnut stock and the checkering on the grip look high quality.

I wouldn't defarb it.
It's worth more as a Harley commemorative and has a place in Americana as a collectible.
It's part of modern history just the way it is.
It's...er...ummm...perfect just like a Harley! :)

The "dp" and "AI" marking on the side of the barrel indicates the pistol was made by Davide Pedersoli in their Gardone Val Trompia-Brecia, Italy facilities in 1982. I believe Pedersoli makes quality black powder and modern firearms.

Pedersoli made the basic pistol, and they are indeed good quality guns. They were modified in the US by an aftermarket distributor for Harley Davidson. There might be premium value to a Harley memorabilia collector, but the basic gun is probably worth about $180-$220.

They are a collectors gun for sure. I called the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee and they have #0001 and were not interested in another. There were 1000 made and of the 1000 only 500 came with the walnut display case. I have 1 of each. I am not looking to get rich off it but don't want to let it go for nothing either. If anyone wants black powder pistols I have a few other Italian made like this same style & design I want to unload too. I helped a little old lady out by buying all this stuff & now I think I am going to lose out bigtime.

Hell I'll give ya $180 +$20 toward the shippin' $200 and send me one.
I'm the guy on the Left
http://i31.tinypic.com/30vfbja.jpg
69 TR1 650 high compression single carb big pipe Desert Bar hopper Triumph on a Bonneville Frame.
http://i28.tinypic.com/e0jwno.jpg
And a course Old Faithful 78 GL1000 Goldwing
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/CrittersNpeople/10-14-08_1356.jpg

Do I qualify for one a them HD Pisstles?

Smokin' Gun

Well, if they're anything like their bikes they'll be crap.

As a vintage Harley Shovelhead rider, I take exception to that, and would love to have one of those BP pistols.

Hell I'll give ya $180 +$20 toward the shippin' $200 and send me one.
I'm the guy on the Left...(not really all that important...)


What's all that white stuff?

What's all that white stuff?


That's a Heavy California High Desert Frost:rolleyes:

SG

I have 2 of these collector B/P pistols which i purchased NEW when they first hit the shelves at my local dealer. I'm a H/D collector of the Buck knife series and the H/D steins & decanters.The brass plate on the side of the pistol is ORIGINAL I have seen this rare pistols go for $1500-$2500 at different H/D collectors sites.there is one listed now Item Number: 839 Price: $1,195.00
1983 Harley-Davidson did something very different when they had this Limited Edition Black Powder Replica Pistol made to commemorate the 75th year of the V-Twin engine. This antique REPLICA of a Kentucky Mountain pistol is a 44 cal. with a walnut stock that is hand checkered. The lockplate is engraved with the Anniversary logo and hand styled etching. It is in its original walnut case with all of its accessories.It is in excellent condition.email me for pictures www.harley-collectibles.com Hope this info solves the mystery for some of you out there.

NightTrainRider

Ha Ha Ha, I hope you guys that want these guns, haven't also a want for the HD Barrbie and Ken set too...

When it comes to ridin' and packin BP guns I bring this..
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Coast-tocoast/fa9b.jpg

Around 15yrs ago I saw a Commemorative HD Blackpowder REVOLVER offered for sale in Gun List. It sold before I had a chance to see it. Does anyone know of such a revolver? It might have been a dealer promotional.

I would like to sell my Harley commemorative pistol and was doing some research when I found this site and thread....thanks for all for the info on it...it was a gift a few years back, never fired, sits in a drawer...anyone interested in it?...no walnut case came with it---just the pistol...its in excellent condition....

I'd shoot it.

If harley made an airplane, would you fly it?

Not me. :D

Do they still make Harley Davidson beer? :barf:

Where's the kickstart for when you pull the trigger and nothing happens :what:?

Telling on myself, I appreciated the gift from my ex-guy, but I was never excited about it (I'd asked for a Derringer Pistol which was probably cheaper) --thus sitting in the underwear drawer for years forgotten....not excited about it enough to shoot it.....

Since you'd shoot the gun would you fly the plane?

They did make HD cigs for a while too--had a pack put up but my nephew carefully unwrapped the bottom of the pack--smoked the cigs and we never knew it was empty until we handled the pack to show them to someone---nephew fessed up later...it was pretty ingenious of him actually.....didn't know about the beer.

I've never seen the HD revolvers or black powder pistols before but I guess if I start looking along the side of the roads I'm sure to find one!

Go to Sturgis next month. They'll be in the ditches all down I90. :D

As a former panhead owner; I can tell you that HARLEYS DEFINITELY DON'T LEAK OIL, they merely mark their territory... I'll keep my ROA, too much work to shoot a single shot.

You will find nearly everything you need to know, here:
http://www.caimag.com/forum/f56/h-d-black-powder-pistol-6617.html

including some lovely photos, and lots of discussion including "what the gun guys think of them" ; "how harley collectors will overpay for junk"; and "a thing is only worth what you can get for it".

Those who claim these manufactured "collectibles" are highly sought after and desirable have only to google

"Harley Davidson" muzzleloading pistol 75th anniversary

in order to discover what the original price was, what the general consensus is and what is being paid for them.

The base pistol, as a reasonably nice Pedersoli, is cataloge priced at around $400 to $600 depending:

http://muzzleloadingandmore.com/products/pistols/pedersoli%20pistols/index.htm

But you do need to find someone who appreciates that , ummmm ... remarkable sideplate :-(

good luck
yhs
shunka

Smokey, slow, hard to clean up, mechanically inefficient - Sounds like a BP gun.

What's not to love?


:neener:

One on Gun Broker right now, with the case.
Too rich for me.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=182523618