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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 15:26:25 GMT -7
OK, I know most frontiersmen didn't have a pistol unless possibly they were going to war or were rangers. That being said, I could not imagine a better pistol for a frontiersman to use as a "back up" gun for his rifle, especially if he went hunting in area's he might find hostile Europeans or Native Americans. Many period pistols were just too large to stick under their belt or sash and often carry. This one seems just the right size to do that. Hope you enjoy looking at it. scavengeology.com/william-dyer-pistol-a-frontier-pistol-from-the-greenbrier-valley/Gus |
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Post by spence on Jul 13, 2022 16:38:21 GMT -7
Excellent find, Gus. Great general information, and a personal connection, since I had an ancestor who came to the Kentucky frontier from Greenbriar. Beautiful pistol, especially the brass barrel. I agree that this would have been a much more reasonable pistol to carry, in your belt, for instance, than those huge horse pistols. I have one, modern, which seems to be in about the same size category, and I've carried it in my belt for years, hunting both large and small game. I have an original horse pistol, and it's a real handful. I wouldn't want to carry it unless it came with a horse. Here's a picture of the two for comparison. The horse pistol weighs 2 3/4 lb., the modern one only 1 1/2 lb.  As I carry mine, either belt or sash, no problems.  Spence |
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 13, 2022 19:15:38 GMT -7
Great find. When I first came across that pistol, my thoughts were similar. A great carry gun for a man afoot. I wonder how many brass-barreled pistols were around…
That blog has some treasures. Well worth the time to peruse.
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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 22:20:29 GMT -7
Thanks Spence and Ryan,
One of my mentors and my best friend in life until he passed, was almost exactly 10 years older than I and well into having some originals and a few nice hand built ML guns when I first met him. He had a flintlock pistol about the size of the Dyer pistol and I was often drawn to it when looking over my friend's guns when we lived together and for many years later.
Spence,
May I ask if your pistol was built that way or cut down from a more "full size" pistol? Either way, it is a neat piece!
Gus
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Post by spence on Jul 14, 2022 6:22:08 GMT -7
Spence, May I ask if your pistol was built that way or cut down from a more "full size" pistol? Either way, it is a neat piece! The pistol was built that way from the get-go. It is by Jackie Brown, as I understand it, a prototype for a possible new offering. I don't think it ever went into production. It's 20-gauge smoothbore, tapered barrel 7 1/2", and has a unique front sight.   Spence |
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Post by artificer on Jul 14, 2022 9:17:39 GMT -7
Love that barrel and grotesque mask front sight, Spence.
Gus
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 14, 2022 9:42:00 GMT -7
Grotesque mask? I thought that was the likeness of Spence. Not very nice, Gus. 😜
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Post by spence on Jul 14, 2022 10:32:38 GMT -7
It is me, but when I was young and pretty. Truth in advertising, a current photo.  Spence |
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002 
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Post by Keith on Jul 15, 2022 0:17:57 GMT -7
Well I don't know about you young blokes, but I am well past running, so like Spence, I too carry a pistol.  .70 caliber brass cannon barrel. Left hand lock. Original antique, no maker's name. Keith. |
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002
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Post by Keith on Jul 15, 2022 0:25:17 GMT -7
OK, I know most frontiersmen didn't have a pistol unless possibly they were going to war or were rangers. That being said, I could not imagine a better pistol for a frontiersman to use as a "back up" gun for his rifle, especially if he went hunting in area's he might find hostile Europeans or Native Americans. Many period pistols were just too large to stick under their belt or sash and often carry. This one seems just the right size to do that. Hope you enjoy looking at it. scavengeology.com/william-dyer-pistol-a-frontier-pistol-from-the-greenbrier-valley/Gus Thank you for sharing this Gus, much appreciated. Great looking pistol, very interesting. Keith. |
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Post by artificer on Jul 15, 2022 2:10:10 GMT -7
Well I don't know about you young blokes, but I am well past running, so like Spence, I too carry a pistol. .70 caliber brass cannon barrel. Left hand lock. Original antique, no maker's name. Keith. Keith, You have GOT to tell us what it's like shooting that pistol! Looks like it would be great fun. Is it possible this was one of a pair of pistols with alternate right and left hand locks so both could be fired with the locks facing outboard? Thank you for the kind words. Gus |
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002
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Post by Keith on Jul 16, 2022 21:34:35 GMT -7
Well I don't know about you young blokes, but I am well past running, so like Spence, I too carry a pistol. .70 caliber brass cannon barrel. Left hand lock. Original antique, no maker's name. Keith. Keith, You have GOT to tell us what it's like shooting that pistol! Looks like it would be great fun. Is it possible this was one of a pair of pistols with alternate right and left hand locks so both could be fired with the locks facing outboard? Thank you for the kind words. Gus I think it more likely that this pistol was made for a left hander rather than one of a pair, but you could be right. I would like to tell you what it is like to shoot this pistol, but it is illegal for me to shoot this pistol in Australia. I imagine it would be a lot of fun though  Keith. |
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Post by artificer on Jul 17, 2022 0:52:37 GMT -7
Keith,
That's a shame as that girl looks like she really wants to speak again.
Gus
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