Big Bore Barrels, Boxes & BAD News.

22 Bore or .59 inch or 1.5 cm. ? .. Bigger than a .45 anyway

RUST to RICHES ..Was it worth the effort?

I still need to find a proper top screw ..

 

I like to research my facts before pecking at the keyboard letters - but I think I may have to give that up as a bad idea - reading modern writing that is .. Some joker called Dave Emary in Guns & Ammo July 2021 got paid for one of the crappiest editorial pieces on 'Cap & Ball Revolvers' that I've ever read. - He reckoned they are "anemic" and "tedious to load"  while observing that "the cylinders hold about 30 to 35 grains of blackpowder" .. and "cylinders may be .001" or .002" larger than a revolvers groove diameter". Link to this nonsensical crap:

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/cap-ball-revolver-history/394130

- Better try reading 1950's Sixguns by Elmer Keith eh ..

"For its size and weight nothing is so deadly as the round ball of pure lead when driven at fairly good velocity. Maximum loads give these slugs fairly high velocity from a 7 1/2 inch barrel gun. Both Major R. E. Stratton and Samuel H. Fletcher told me the .36 Navy with full loads was a far better man killer than any .38 Special they had ever seen used in gun fights."

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/keith-article-on-cap-and-ball-pistols-long.11474/

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I definately am NO expert but it seems likely that Boxlock actions in pistols date from, maybe 1730ish as carry gun Pocket Pistols aka "Boot Pistols" - with their parts protected inside the chassis - rather than mounted outside on a 'lock-plate'.

Naturally, these first boxlocks were FLINTLOCK guns - until the CAPLOCK percussion ignition guns were developed 100 years later - around 1820.

- Three of mine .. 

I fully understand that as collectibles these blackpowder boxlocks are rated as barely one degree above "Saturday Night Specials" - But there's a superbly good reason why I like Box-Lock Percussion Pistols ... I can  AFFORD TO BUY (fix) AND OWN THEM.

Likely they will cost here in NZ around three or five times more than in UK and what you might find in USA but they can be found down here in New Zealand and bought as 'antiques' free of licensing restrictions as long as you don't plan on shooting them at all. - This restriction might be wise - as some neglected offerings seem to be rust corroded and non-functional anyway.  Most of these that I see are smooth bore and commentaters like to observe that these will be inaccurate. NOT SO .. only at longer ranges, say over fifty feet - is rifling beneficial to even-out any projectile irregularity due weight and balance.

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Yes I have bought another double-barrelled one .. functional hammers but looks like shit .. all surface rust corrosion and seized barrels, black painted stock, loose trigger guard and wrong screws - but beggers can't be choosers and I get it to enjoy working on improving it.

This Latest buy is a BIG Boy - maybe 22 Bore (.596 inch) 15mm. 

Note the black painted grip ..

Advertised as a "shotgun pistol likely Liege Belgium made" .. but there are London 'view marks' .. if the CROWN over V markings under the barrel are genuine.

Rust & London View Proofs?

- These are 'Turn Off' breach loading barrels that are solidly seized in place. - First I removed the stock & boiled the iron lump with a change of water after 15 minutes - removing the crud and trying to convert the red rust to black oxides, which doesn't seem to work very well for me ..

Putting it aside for the seized barrels to soak in CRC - I have sanded-off the BLACK PAINT covering the walnut stock using fine 'Wet'n'Dry' to expose some sort of white filler BOG and an area of solid plastic wood that I'll stain & re-finish back close to the original walnut ..

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- So I'm cooking away with the butane torch to unseize the first barrel - trying to shift it at higher & higher temperatures in stages .. when at last it gives a little - BUT just as I smile in relief .. I catch the sweet pine resin smell of ROSIN soft solder FLUX.

- That screw-off barrel is not seized - IT IS SOLDERED in place.

That revelation is a message to LEAVE  IT  AS  IT  IS. Full Stop. - Cease all removal work on these tubes. This is an instance of  Red Line issues when buying old second hand goods .. Does everything always go right? - Does my screw driver sometimes slip and gouge a long scratch into the polished walnut? For sure - but we can fix it mostly.

- But this solid looking Big Boy does look somewhat better than before, it being a handsome fight stopper - something like an maxi 'Derringer' or perhaps even a Lancaster big-bore pistol, suited for colonial warfare and use against Tigers & Cape Buffalo ..

- Any identification help would be valued ..

Marty K.