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Howdah Pistol - Double-Barrel Pin-Fire
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Apparently these guns were carried on Elephant back to discourage tiger attack, among other things. Probably more of an anti bandit device. You'll see them in various calibers, rifled and unrifled... Here's the gist of it, if you believe what Wiki says. It's pretty close anywayzzz... Howdah pistol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Those are Belgian proof markings. The crown/E/LG/star designates it was proved in conformity of German Proof Laws of 1891. The crown/R indicates rifled barrels. The intertwined EL above the 10.9 is the provisional proof of the barrels prior to permanent breeching. Not certain but the 10.9 may be a caliber designation. Looks a bit too large in the pics but 10.9 mm roughly equals .429 caliber and it's a center fire, not a pin fire.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
vintage hunter
Those are Belgian proof markings. The crown/E/LG/star designates it was proved in conformity of German Proof Laws of 1891. The crown/R indicates rifled barrels. The intertwined EL above the 10.9 is the provisional proof of the barrels prior to permanent breeching. Not certain but the 10.9 may be a caliber designation. Looks a bit too large in the pics but 10.9 mm roughly equals .429 caliber and it's a center fire, not a pin fire.
As usual, blown away by the wealth of knowledge on this forum.
I was able to insert a .44 caliber casing into both chambers, but not able to close the action.
So, I'd say your evaluation is spot-on.
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They made them in lots of different calibers, even 303.
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Have confirmed 10.9 as being the bore diameter in millimeters. Being a BP fire arm the grooves would probably have been .008''-.010'' deep so I'm guessing actual bullet diameter would be around .450'' or so.
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It wouldn't be in 577/450 would it? The breech doesn't look big enough but hard to tell from here. Maybe .455 or .476? How long is the chamber? What shape?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
browningautorifle
It wouldn't be in 577/450 would it? The breech doesn't look big enough but hard to tell from here. Maybe .455 or .476? How long is the chamber? What shape?
How long is the chamber?
- Can you explain what you'd like me to measure for you? Explain like I was a child :P
I only ask because with my limited firearms knowledge, this pistol doesn't seem to have a "chamber."
Just two spots where the rounds are loaded, similar to a couch gun.
I'm surely missing something.
What shape?
- I want to say round, but that seems too obvious.
I can take better/more pictures, and take measurements.
Just tell me exactly what you need, and I'll get it tonight.
Do we have any idea of the manufacturer or origin of this pistol?
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1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
browningautorifle
It wouldn't be in 577/450 would it?
Same thing crossed my mind too. What a handful that would be. Probably frighten the living s%@T out of your elephant too.
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Originally Posted by
dttuner
How long is the chamber?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dttuner
What shape?
Just give us a inside measurement at the muzzle end and another at the chamber end for now. Should be able to figure out whether straight wall or bottle neck from that. If you have a good camera you might be able to get a descent shot of the chambers by shining a light in from the muzzle end seeing as how the barrels are so short. Something like this would give us a rough idea to toy around with until you can get more precise measurements.
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Is it a rifled barrel? Most I have seen are smooth bore .36 gauge (.410). Looks like a Belgian double barreled pistol to me. A smooth bore that shoots black powder .410 shotgun cartridges.