Confederate Pistol?

[Cindie Jackter]

Please help me and review pictures and see if anyone can identify the year make and model. I believe it is a Radcliffe & Guignard Percussion Pistol. It has two barrel and hidden triggers, the metal side has long lines the form multiple X's. A Walnut carved handle with a metal cap/npple on bottom of handle.

Any history behind this weapon? How should I clean it? Any value?

[Bill Davis]

I don't know anything about your pistol, but it looks like a pin fire gun based on the slots in the in the top of the barrel. If it's a true pin fire, it would be post Civil War.

[Mark Landskov]

A limited number of Lefaucheaux revolvers were issued to forces during the Civil War. Pinfire cartridges have been found at battlefields. Here is a link to the IAA forum. There are a few collectors that study pinfires and should be able to help you out. The other link is for the website of a dedicated pinfire collector. Good Luck!

http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewforum.php?f=8

http://freemycollection.com/

[George Lander]

Radcliffe & Guignard were jewelers & sporting goods merchants prior to, during & after the American Civil War. They were located on Richardson Street (now Main Street) in Columbia, South Carolina. I own a British made SxS Percussion Gun made for them by Westley Richards in England who engraved their name on the top rib. I also own coin silverware made & marked by them. They were a "high end" shop which catered to the Southern elite. Unless your pistol is properly marked how do you connect it with them?

Best Regards, George

[William Davis]

Lot of obscure Confederate firearms, I only know a few, Cofer revolver Virginia Arsenal etc.

If Confederate it's probably valuable and CW collectors value as found condition greatly. Don't clean it, will cut the value sure. You need expert advice.

Bill

[Cindie Jackter]

Thank you Bill and Everyone. I will not clean it. Does anyone know of a collector that deals in purchasing Civil War Guns that I can talk to?

[Cindie Jackter]

There is writing on the top rib. Any suggestions as to who I should talk to about it? If it's valuable both in historical and financially i would be interested in learning more. Any one is welcome to the conversation.

[William Davis]

Even though I live in the heart of Confederate collecting am at a loss to give a good reference. I would take the pistol to a good Civil War show make the rounds of tables see what the dealers say. And don't take the first offer.

One problem with Confederate relics is so many have been counterfeited it makes it hard to determine the value of legitimate. However your pistol is so unique it's not likely it was faked. Perhaps half claiming Confederate use are fakes. Got myself in trouble at Portobello road antique market in London. Picked up a Sword, fairly good copy of Ames CW model. Fellow gave me the sell before I could say anything. When he finished in my best Virginia accent told him it was a &@3* fake made in Spain. He did not take it well.

Here is a link to shows. Only one I know personally is the November Richmond show

http://www.confederateplanet.com/upcoming-civil-war-and-militaria-shows.html

Bill

[Cindie Jackter]

Thank you Bill for the information. I agree the gun is very unique I have searched for others like it but have been unable to find an exact. Except the original post of Radcliffe & gungnard . My impression is this was a special order for a unique person.
Does anyone know a Civil War Specialist in weapons in the orlando fl area? I would like to confirm year make. & model & ball park value of a "possibly" one of a kind Confederate Pistol

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I wouldn't say "unique" and it's pretty unlikely it was used in the Civil War. Pinfire cartridges were just coming into use during that time, they would have been fairly hard to get. I'll take a wild guess and say there are Belgian proof marks stamped under the barrels. Every one of these double barrel pistols I've seen (rimfire and pinfire) had Belgian marks on them.

If it was a "special order" for a "unique person" then there's no way you could provenance it to being used by someone in the Confederate Army short of a photograph of them in uniform literally holding the gun.

This forum is about Parker Shotguns made in Meriden Connecticut. You might have better luck posting on forums relating to pinfire firearms or civil war forums if you still think it's some kind of military arm.


Destry

[Cindie Jackter]

I wouldn't say "unique" and it's pretty unlikely it was used in the Civil War. Pinfire cartridges were just coming into use during that time, they would have been fairly hard to get. I'll take a wild guess and say there are Belgian proof marks stamped under the barrels. Every one of these double barrel pistols I've seen (rimfire and pinfire) had Belgian marks on them.

If it was a "special order" for a "unique person" then there's no way you could provenance it to being used by someone in the Confederate Army short of a photograph of them in uniform literally holding the gun.

This forum is about Parker Shotguns made in Meriden Connecticut. You might have better luck posting on forums relating to pinfire firearms or civil war forums if you still think it's some kind of military arm.


Destry

Sorry no Belgian Proof Marks under the barrel. There is a name/number engraved into the top of the barrel. I appreciate everyone taking time to talk to me; my apologies for entering your forum I thought it was an open discussion where I could find help. I will exit now. Thanks again. And my apologies if I have entered a forum that was for private discussions only.

[George Lander]

Cindie: For my part & I'm sure others on this forum you are most welcome to post your questions here. The recommendation concerning the Richmond show was good. You, also, might wish to contact Mr. Jack Meyer who wrote the book on the Palmetto Arsenal & who lives in Winnsboro, South Carolina. I don't have his phone number or address handy but I'm sure that you can get it from information. Another contact might be Mr. John Sexton who lives in Atlanta. If you could take a picture of the markings on the top rib I could tell you more.

Best Regards, George

[Cindie Jackter]

Thank you George. I will take a photo and post. I need the right angle and lighting give me a few and I shall post.

[Cindie Jackter]

i posted the pictures I hope you can read them.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I didn't say don't post here, I said you might have better luck where experts on this sort of firearm spend their time. As I said, this is Parker shotguns, not pinfire double barrel pistols.

DLH

[Cindie Jackter]

I have an old gun book with photos and connected the gun to the photo. There is also an engraving on the top albeit hard to make out. I am going to trace it through the owner I purchased it from

[Cindie Jackter]

Can anyone identify the engraving on the top of the barrel. The under part of barrel has a 35 the gun has 2 triggers and on the outer side of each is a 36. The side decoration by triggers are straight lines intersecting eachother. The handle is hand carved walnut and there is a metal/silver cap with a nipple at butt of handle.
Any help is welcomed.