anyone an antique gun collector or know someone??

[John Jones]

I was curious if anyone could help me identify this pistol or knew someone who might help.  I spent most of a day several weeks ago searching the internet and have not been able to find anything that looks similar except for one all engraved silver pistol.

On the top of the barrel reads T. Bolton & Co.
There are two proof marks on the lower left flat of the hexagonal barrel that others have told me were the Birmingham England Government Proof House marks.  I can find no other lettering or marks.  I have not been able to find any history on T. Bolton & Co. but I have found a few pistols of that manufacturer for sale online. None of the pistols that I found online had the saw handle grip and all of the saw handled pistols I found were wood grips except for one that was all silver.  All the T. Bolton pistols I found online were flintlocks.  Every part of the pistol including the lock has some engraving.  

Length overall = 9.6 inches
Barrel length = 4.45 inches
bore diameter is approximately .446 inches.

If anyone can provide any information on this pistol or history on the manufacturer it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

John

















I experimented with three different cameras and about 50 pictures total from all angles and this is the best I can get of the manufacturer's name on the barrel.  I am afraid to try to clean it as I am not a collector and do not know a way to clean it without damage.  I only polished with a dry cloth.

[pete]

JJ I don't know any thing about antique guns,but that one is a beauty!Theres bound to be a classic antiqueaquasportguns.com out there somewhere!Hey,if you get another one we can duel with the classic mako guys!    

[RickK]

Cool pistol  :!:
Is this something you've had all along?

[gran398]

JJ thats a nice one and is in great condition.

On Antiques Road Show there is a gent from Mississippi who is an expert in antique firearms. His link should appear on their website. (Shiloh Antiques?)

He seems like a nice southern gentleman...give him a call, let him check out the photos.

Just went through something similar with an antique Faberge' snuffbox, solid gold. Mine turned out to be counterfeit.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[gran398]

PS...With the pointed escucheon on the rear, looks like it could've been a naval boarding pistol. That thing could do you in,  in two different ways.... :cry:

[John Jones]

It actually belongs to my father-in-law.  He says he bought it in 1941 just because he thought it was cool.

I'll have to check out the roadshow guy.  A month ago I posted this on six different gun forums including 2 in England with no info coming back.  All I can find out is that there was a couple of T. Bolton gun makers in England throughout the 1800's.

It's amazing what one can find on the internet.  Here is the 1878 postal directory for Birmingham, England with a Bolton that was a "brass master" and another that was an engraver.  I supposed either could have made it.
http://books.google.com/books?id=S-8NAA ... am&f=false


Just yesterday a guy from England sent me this link to a similar all silver pistol.
http://www.henrykrank.com/am134.html

[pete]

JJ this is the guy who checks out the antique guns on History channel Pawn Stars

http://www.tortugatrading.com/engine/re ... k+Treasure

http://www.tortugatrading.com/engine/in ... luation%27

[gran398]

Pete, good links.

Looking forward to the expert's answer.

Thanks.

[Glock Diver]

Well, any advice I would give here has already been given!

(My first thought was- take it to the shop in Vegas where they film Pawn Stars.  He's always got an antique gun expert handy!  And you'd get to meet "Chumly"    )

Very likely the manufacturer did not exclusively make firearms, so the info you found about T. Bolton in England seems right.  Back in those days, a company might make pistols, fountain pens, lamps, and hammers.  Odd merchandise selections were pretty common.

Let us know if you get some answers, it's a really interesting weapon!

[John Jones]

Thanks Pete.  I'll work on that tomorrow.

[Capt. Bob]

My first thought was- take it to the shop in Vegas where they film Pawn Stars.   And you'd get to meet "Chumly"  

Mr. Russel, alias Chumlee


No offense, just a fan.

[gran398]

I'm a fan too. Searched the net, wanted to go check them out next time am there. From the posts, that's easier said than done...they're not there!

Reports say there is a line two blocks long to get in the place. Very small. They film in another section of the store that's closed to the public.

The public enters an area that sells T-shirts for 20 bucks and bubble-heads of the stars. I need a new job  

[John Jones]

yeah, the wife wanted to eat at Paula Deen's.  NOT!

Make reservations before 8.30AM for whatever time slot is open, park a mile away, stand in long lines for what I hear is overpriced mediocre food.

[John Jones]

I thought this was pretty cool.  I took a chance and sent an email.  Look at who responded.
*****************************
Dear Mr Jones,
 
With apologies for the delay, I have investigated our own collection and the literature on your behalf and can find very little. I would place your pistol as being 1835-40 in date. It is a pocket pistol in an English style (with a "saw-handle" stock), but I can find no English maker of that name. The only known possibility would be a 'Bolton' (no initial) recorded on a kentucky rifle c1770 - 90 in date - but this would make the same maker rather old by the era in question. Without an initial and/or address, it also doesn't really help us much.
 
Sorry not to be of more help.
 
Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Ferguson
Curator of Firearms

Royal Armouries Museum
Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10 1LT
Tel:  0113 220 1875
www.royalarmouries.org

[gran398]

JJ, great research. You've taken the initial search quickly to an upper level.

Maybe the English curator develops more interest. Informs his retail friends. You could take it to Roadshow and the experts become "all jiggetty."

You never know.

Sounds good from here.