OT- 1600s Naval Pistol

[MakeeLearn]

Thought this might a good place to get some info:

This was found in the sand by a neighbor when he was a kid, near St. Augustine Florida. His Grandfather took it and gave it back to him when he got married.

He showed it to a museum curator and was told:

-It is from the 1600s
-Has a possible Spanish Naval design.
-The inlay is animal bone
-The trim is copper.
-Sometime in the 1800s the barrel was replaced and the pistol was turned into a non-functioning "wallhanger".

[MakeeLearn]

Top1

[MakeeLearn]

Top Inlay

[MakeeLearn]

Barrel trim

[MakeeLearn]

Trim/inlay

[MakeeLearn]

Flint-top

[RangerJoe]

Sweet! [:'(]

[adarbrauner]

I can only say I have a very similar pistol. bone inlay and copper trim which are very similar if not identical, but it's a mere recent replica

[rockmedic109]

Amazing. How did the wood last so long?

I wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

I can only say I have a very similar pistol. bone inlay and copper trim which are very similar if not identical, but it's a mere recent replica

Can you give some more info on the replica?

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

Amazing. How did the wood last so long?

I wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk.

Cherry wood, it was under water which preserved it to some degree.

It has a tale to tell.

[MakeeLearn]

So far I've found out that:

The bone inlays may be whale bone.

The style is a Dragoon Pistols. With a few exceptions, most countries were not making pistols exclusively for the Navy and were adopting and modifying, pistols that were made for the Cavalry.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

Amazing. How did the wood last so long?

I wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk.

Cherry wood, it was under water which preserved it to some degree.

It has a tale to tell.

Wooden ships preserved under water get buried in mud that shuts out all oxygen and stops the decay and worm attacks.

[crsutton]

There are forums on Facebook and elsewhere that are dedicated to any type of firearm. I suggest you look for one that specialized in that type. That is where you will find all of the experts. I can tell you this-even beat up as it is it might have been a valuable collector's item. But if the barrel was replaced, it is not going to be worth much. All original is what matters with collector's firearms.

[Dili]

I agree go ask in specialized forum. I suppose there is no word or even a letter in it?

I found it very fancy with that incrustations.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Pawn stars? [:D]

[MakeeLearn]

I've posted this on several gun forums and it's still mostly a mystery.

I believe it's because the pistol is not a "production" pistol. It was probably made in the field or on a ship. Maybe a bar owner also made and repaired guns on the side. The level of blacksmithing and woodworking skills were very high back then and such items could have been made anywhere.

I don't think he would sell it unless it was for some ridiculously high price.

The designs interest me. Ive compared them to the known stars at the time, religious symbols and no connection. They may just be artistic. They have a Turkish feel to them.

[Dili]

What is the engraved metal?

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Dili

What is the engraved metal?

He thought is was just copper, but others have said it's brass. It's a floral pattern that some have said is Spanish in design.