Family Heritage: Pair Of Muzzle-Loading Duel Pistols

Dear Friends,


here a few pictures of muzzle-loading duel pistols my parents gave me today.
They have been in possession of our family for at least 150 years.
They might be French, since the initials are not ours and our family house has been a French consulate at the end of the 18th century and up until the second decade of the 19th.
One of the two pistols still works, the other one is almost completely blocked.
I'll try to work on it with lubricants and other products, otherwise I'll take them to my arms shop and ask if they can repair them.
I'd really like to see if I can shoot them, even if only once.
The barrels are threaded.
Does anyone know similar guns?
Maybe give me some further info?

Awesome gift!!!

Be careful in disassembling them not to break anything. At that age they need tender care. Use lots of patience.

Let us have a range report when you shoot them please.

I hope I will...

I would agree that they appear to be of French origin, but they are travelling or pocket pistols rather than duellers. The folding triggers are common to pocket pistols. Duelling pistols are much larger and do not have folding triggers. Check the barrels with a rod to make sure they are not loaded before attempting any work on them. The rod should go into the barrel for the full length of the length of the octagonal barrel. If you can remove the wooden grips then it is good to put the pistols in boiling water for 10 minutes before drying and soaking with penetrating oil (CRC, WD40, etc) for a few days. This will help get things unscrewed. Do not rush the job and do not use too much force. Never use any abrasives (sandpaper etc) on external surfaces but try to preserve as much of the original finish as possible.

I was thinking about duel pistols because they are a pair, but I can follow your argument very well.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I’ll try to unscrew the grips and then boil them.
They are completely unloaded, that I have checked already 20 or more years ago.

Hi Ovidio, my suggestion. Do not do anything until you here from member Patrick Chadwick.

Best Regards.....Frank