Eccentric Grubby Old Boxes:

 .. That's called "Click Bait" eh

If you take a gander (which means "to stretch one's neck to see, like a male goose") at these three BOX LOCK Percussion Pocket Pistols you will observe some differences ..

A weird thing - that gun in the middle is likely the most poorly made antique pistol that I have, 

BUT it's my current favourite, because it realy fits comfortably into my hand & trigger reach

- That's an empty propellant tin

- All three of these cheap antiques have octagonal barrels

- the first from the left has it's HAMMER centralised in the action

- the second - middle - percussion pistol has it's HAMMER offset towards the right (eccentric)

- the third box-lock has it's HAMMER placed so far to the right as to be outside of the boxlock and is a 'SIDELOCK' gun. (- And it has a hidden trigger that drops when cocked).

Now I've no idea what the mid 19th century makers had on their minds when they chose their specialty pattern to make .. probably "This is going to make me rich" - but experts write that it's all about facilitating sighting - which I seriously doubt, as these everyday carry pocket pistols were close range repellents .. "GET OFF ME" guns, not target pistols. - Just marketing? but interesting.

Now, - these mid 19th century Pocket Pistols or Muff Pistols are - sort of - the European version of American Derringers (these 3 percussion guns pictured are English Birmingham proofed, unknown, & Belgian, Leige stamped) and are sensibly 'smooth bored' - But, you Jokers naturally will know that all genuine Deringers have 'back-lock' actions and rifled barrels.

Why would anyone increase the friction losses by cutting rifling into a short range handgun?

As far as I can gather - the first 'BOX LOCK' pistol appeared around 1730 - being a flintlock - and the first turn-off barrels on pistols date back to 1640ish.

The very FIRST hand cannon 火铳 known is Chinese and dated to 1288. (They got to Europe by 1364).

Henry Deringer claimed to have made his first 'Deringer type pistol' in 1825 .. so it was quite an old design that became popular there for killing presidents.

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Now - the second bent feature of box-locks - that has taken me years to notice - is that these 'boxes' containing the actions are NOT square and parallel sided - but they are tapered from back to front.

Yes I am slow witted .. but I never gave it a thought .. moi just being assumptive I guess

These boxes get tighter the further you go up ..

they are not as "low budget" as I thought

I've owned that Mitutoyu vernier caliper for nearly 65 years and can still read it - I wonder how many of the new digital versions might work in 65 years time?

Putting it simply - these pistols are basic & very useful tools. Modern thinking versus the olden times .. Back then these pistols were everyday carry by respectable adults - whereas now we BAN GUNS rather than raise disciplined trustworthy and responsible citizens and permanently removing dangerous deviant scum from society.

- Talking about deviant scum .. If you ever wonder about Democracy and who rules the world - Consider that Elon Musk being 'worth' some 421 Billion Dollars - bought the American government - for just TWO DAYS of his income and every other Western nation's venal leadership would likely cost even less.

Even so, Life is good,

Marty K.