20-gauge Howdah pistols (pics)

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Serial Fan

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Here are my Howdah pistols. 20 gauge smoothbore double, walnut stock, blued and case hardened steel; 11 1/4" barrel, 18 1/2" overall length. I've been doing some testing with shot loads and patched round ball. Here's the first one I got...

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The forward trigger is for the right barrel, the rear trigger for the left...

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One lock is engraved with a warthog, the other a leopard...

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The grip cap is two pieces of solid steel that fit together with two studs...

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Double-hooked breech (this one came out a little blurry)...

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With my .54 Kentucky pistol for a size comparison...

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When I got the other two, I took some shots of all three of them together...

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Serial Fan, great pics thanks for posting them. You've redoubled my desire to pick up one of these things. It looks like you could mount a lanyard ring in that removable grip cap.
 
You sir, are a horder! "An honest man" couldn't possibly need three Howdah Pistols. You will, therefore, send one of them to me forthwith.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated, immediate compliance. :D

They're beautiful. Are all three of them 20 gauge?
 
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Hmmmm

I take it that with the photo of the semi-auto, you are somehow contemplating their use as concealed carry?

To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee, 'Thot's not a gwun, Thas is a GWUN!'

(Okay, so you try to do an Australian accent here in print! :neener:)

The Doc is out now. :cool:
 
I've looked at those on the Pedersoli sight and its definitely a future purchase. The only problem is that I know nothing about BP firearms and have no idea what goes into branching into that area.

Is there anyway it can be (legally) converted to shoot 20 gauge shotshells??
 
Is there anyway it can be (legally) converted to shoot 20 gauge shotshells??
Click to expand...

The quick answer is "no". In a double shotgun the stock is two piece to accomodate a hinge pin and breech.....lets just say all you would be able to save would be the grip hardware and lock maybe (minus hammers), the stock would at least have to be cut in two and same with the barrels. Plus you would also have to add alot of .... "parts".
 
Is there anyway it can be (legally) converted to shoot 20 gauge shotshells??
Click to expand...
:what::what::what:

The quick answer is "no". In a double shotgun the stock is two piece to accomodate a hinge pin and breech.....lets just say all you would be able to save would be the grip hardware and lock maybe (minus hammers), the stock would at least have to be cut in two and same with the barrels. Plus you would also have to add alot of .... "parts".
Click to expand...

The slow answer is also "No" for the following reasons (at least):
1. the barrels are shorter than the legal minimum of 18 inches
2. the overall length is shorter than 26 inches (might be 29 inches min. - not sure
3. you can't shoot smokeless shotshells in a firearm intended for black powder

You will be opening yourself up for more heartache than you can imagine if you try such a "conversion". PLEASE don't.
 
Converting the Pedersoli gun into a breechloader is a smple matter of replacing the lock, stock, and barrels. This is probably most easily accomplished by buying a pre-assembled kit, often sold under the brand name of Remington, Winchester, etc.

After applying for and receiving the appropriate federal permissions, the kit can then be modified to your final goal, after which I would be happy to purchase the unused Pedersoli parts from you at, say, half of your original cost.

Let me know!
 
After applying for and receiving the appropriate federal permissions,
Click to expand...

Providing your State law allows, with the appropriate Fed lic and/or tax stamps you can build about anything, including a short barreled shotgun. Just takes money.
 
Providing your State law allows, with the appropriate Fed lic and/or tax stamps you can build about anything, including a short barreled shotgun. Just takes money.
Click to expand...
Not quite correct.

You can build anything you want for your own personal use without any approvals or licenses. You can't transfer (sell or give away) anything you've built without at a minimum a federal tax license, and depending on the gun, an FFL. On top of that there are further restrictions about possession and use of automatic firearms, and dimensional restrictions on shotguns and rifles. But those restrictions are on possession and use, not building.

This is the reason people can purchase a percussion revolver without an FFL transfer and then later add a cartridge conversion cylinder that essentially makes the gun a GCA gun. They can make the conversion themselves by simply installing the cylinder, and use it as they wish, but they cannot sell or give the gun to anyone else in the modified condition; they can transfer it with the percussion cylinder installed, and in a separate transaction transfer the conversion cylinder, but they cannot transfer both together.
 
mykeal said..

Not quite correct.

You can build anything you want for your own personal use without any approvals or licenses. You can't transfer (sell or give away) anything you've built without at a minimum a federal tax license, and depending on the gun, an FFL. On top of that there are further restrictions about possession and use of automatic firearms, and dimensional restrictions on shotguns and rifles. But those restrictions are on possession and use, not building.

This is the reason people can purchase a percussion revolver without an FFL transfer and then later add a cartridge conversion cylinder that essentially makes the gun a GCA gun. They can make the conversion themselves by simply installing the cylinder, and use it as they wish, but they cannot sell or give the gun to anyone else in the modified condition; they can transfer it with the percussion cylinder installed, and in a separate transaction transfer the conversion cylinder, but they cannot transfer both together.
Click to expand...

To quote you.. "Not quite correct."

In New York, as a example, one can purchase a black powder pistol/revolver and do so without any type of license/permit while it being legal. This comes under the classification as a relic or antique

On the other hand, once that person acquires anything that would consider it shootable, ie: one cap, one grain of powder, one slug/ball, one ___, one ___, one ___, etc., etc. THEN under New York State firearms law it becomes a shootable firearm which then requires a New York State permit/license to own.. let alone use it for anything else.

And conversion cylinders.. FORGET IT!! Google conversion cylinders and NYS law. This is what you'll find: "Under New York law, the gun is NO longer considered 'antique' and exempt under the licensing law, but becomes a modern handgun subject to all licensing rules and regulations."

My advice to y'all Pards and Pardetts out there: if you're thinking about going to NYS and taking your BP revolvers with ya to do a little shooting.. DON'T!! It'll get ya into more trouble than it's worth.

Single Action Six

[email protected]
 
Welcome to the forum. I believe you'll find this a friendly and interesting place to visit often.

My comments were regarding Federal law. I guess I should have made that more obvious. New York, and a few other states and municipalities, have additional requirements. Many states, however, do not impose additional restrictions, so my comments are correct for people in those states.
 
Not quite correct.

You can build anything you want for your own personal use without any approvals or licenses. You can't transfer (sell or give away) anything you've built without at a minimum a federal tax license, and depending on the gun, an FFL. On top of that there are further restrictions about possession and use of automatic firearms, and dimensional restrictions on shotguns and rifles. But those restrictions are on possession and use, not building.

This is the reason people can purchase a percussion revolver without an FFL transfer and then later add a cartridge conversion cylinder that essentially makes the gun a GCA gun. They can make the conversion themselves by simply installing the cylinder, and use it as they wish, but they cannot sell or give the gun to anyone else in the modified condition; they can transfer it with the percussion cylinder installed, and in a separate transaction transfer the conversion cylinder, but they cannot transfer both together.
Click to expand...

You need to review the federal firearms regulations. My statement was
"Providing your State law allows, with the appropriate Fed lic and/or tax stamps you can build about anything, including a short barreled shotgun. Just takes money".

I did not infer or imply anything about selling or transferring a firearm.

I do question this statement.
"You can build anything you want for your own personal use without any approvals or licenses."
Click to expand...
Following that advise well land you in a federal pen.
 
Those are great, first time I had seen one.
They will make a nice compaion to the .72 Double Kodiak Express that I am hoping to pick up this year.

Thanks for the post I just added another to the ever growing wish list. :p
 
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