Is it safe?

[Kurlis]

My mother is from Spain and some of her ancestors were high ranking Spanish soldiers who fought in Spanish Morocco and the Philippines. Some of the heirlooms passed down were swords (a cutlass, a sabre, others, including some which were clearly eastern in origin) some daggers, several pin-fire revolvers and a couple of flintlock dueling pistols.

The revolvers themselves have very few markings. One of them has the word, which appears to be "DRJANGO"

I wanted to ask the membership about the pin-fire revolvers and the dueling flintlocks.

Would it be permissible to post pictures of the pin-fire revolvers and the dueling pistols on this forum in order to solicit comments?

Thanks for your consideration,

Kurlis

 

[Iggy]

Permissible? It's required!!!

Please post pictures, we would love to see them.

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

Damas D'Acier means Damascus Steel in French

 

[Kurlis]

 

[Kurlis]

This is a small double barrel pinfire:

 

[opoefc]

These are typical European pistols of the latter half of the 19th century. Not military. There are probably proof marks somewhere on the revolvers that will tell the country of origin - France, Spain or Belgium, I suspect. The single shot percussion is not of dueling quality, but a typical personal type pistol for self and home defense purposes. These are common guns as often seen at larger gun shows. Not of high quality or value, but family history association gives them value far exceeding their intrinsic worth. Make a nice shadow box and display them in the family room at home! Ed #15

 

[Kurlis]

Thanks very much for your thoughtful reply! I think I will do as you suggest.

 

[rhmc24]

The pinfire revolvers can date from the late 1850s but probably as late as '70s. The percussion single shot pistol often called a dueling pistol probably of the same period but could be as early as the '40s. Both types are very typical of European pistols of the period, made variously in most Western European countries. The percussion pistol is probably made in Belgium due to what looks like the ELG mark on the side of the barrel. The french inscription Damas d'Acier means Damascus of Steel. "Damascus" was the premium type of barrel of the mid 1800s, being made of spiral windings of iron-steel forged around a center and bored out to form the barrel.

Spain was big on pinfire types and likely yours are of Spanish make. All of your pieces appear to be in good condition (as opposed to excellent) with the double barrel which has fallen on hard times by damage to the muzzle.