PEPPERBOX Pistol - 'Southall' of England?

 Richard SOUTHALL Jnr was known as a Gunmaker in Birmingham England, listed 1820-1845.. (John Southall Snr 1769-1817) .. possibly also of London.

Above .. A nice looking 'Signed' Southall Pistol at an Auction House

- But this one below is mine.

I think my old banger may likely have originated in the same workshops .. wouldn't it be great to discover how this antique shooter travelled all the way to New Zealand?

- Nicely engraved 'German Silver' frame .. this has no real silver, it being a brass-like alloy with copper/nickel & zinc, typically 60/20/20.

My Pepperbox Is Of the Same Pattern For Sure ..

Mine Being Worked On ..

Someone earlier had re-drilled the axis off-center

Honestly, I'm not complaining .. but to-date every antique pistol I have bought has been badly "adjusted" by someone before me - Sure I bought them for lower prices because they were tatty - fully knowing they might need to be improved. Bought at auction by postal bid, this antique piece had no nipples / cones and the action worked something like an erratic old "HIT'n'MISS" engine. 

- Described in the auction as an 1840's English made gun, with Birmingham proofs.

"English Guns" have a reputation for high quality craftmanship .. but I must say that the inner workings under the engraved body & cover of this unit were RUBBISH .. crudely cast, unfinished and non-functional. - GREAT Britain at it's best.

This size smooth bore is described as 9 mm, .36 inch caliber or gauge - or sometimes as 100 bore (- that is, 100 balls of this size may be cast from one pound of Lead) 

http://www.fourten.org.uk/shotgunbores.html

I had passed the old pepperbox to fellow pistol club shooter & gunsmith "Z" for a one week check-up and rejuvenation to it's previous youthful vigor ... Well he's been a busy lad - while the planet spins on it's tilted axis for several moons.

He's done some good machining .. maybe it'll work again some time ...

Fascinating stuff eh ..

Marty K.