80. Auction

Flintlock pistol, converted to percussion, engraved brass mounts, probably 2nd half 18th c.

Walnut full stock with brass mounts, flintlock pistol, converted to percussion. The barrel with remains of gold damascening, with an angular breech section merging via a ring into the round section, below it the wooden ramrod in a brass ramrod pipe. The lockplate with pointed tail and engraved strapwork; at the front of the plate the retained frizzen spring and the hole of the frizzen screw of the original flintlock. In place of the pan the nipple bolster screwed into the barrel with nipple, struck by the percussion hammer. Opposite, two square brass rosettes for the lock screws. Trigger guard and butt cap of brass, the cap with engraved scrolling foliage decoration. Condition commensurate with age, mechanism functional, the percussion hammer damaged, the rear sight ground off, the ramrod a later replacement, the metal parts pitted and stained, the grip with traces of an old repair. Calibre 13 mm, L. 27.5 cm

The conversion of a flintlock to percussion ignition was a common gunsmith's task in the second quarter of the 19th c.: pan and frizzen were removed, a nipple bolster was fitted into the barrel and a new hammer attached, while barrel, stock, lockplate and mounts of the older weapon were retained. The conversion made ignition faster and largely independent of the weather and extended the service life of many 18th-century weapons by decades. Converted pieces show the traces of both ignition systems on one weapon and are of particular interest to collectors of lock mechanisms. In Germany, muzzle-loading weapons with flintlock or percussion ignition whose model originated before 1871 may be acquired without a licence from the age of 18.