[MR] OT: Pirate Pistol

[sigrune at aol.com]

-----Original Message-----
Does anyone know where I can find a working pirate pistol with a ball 
and cap?

Catalina
================

I take it from your post you are looking for a single shot pistol that 
uses a percussion cap as opposed to a flintlock.
(These are primarily post 1810 weapons)

I would suggest Dixie Gunworks and Navy Arms, though there are others 
out there.

This is a nice "Queen Anne" pistol,
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=9271

This is a nice short one, mianly designed for signaling, but large 
caliber short pistols were used by pirates as handgun shotguns.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=2016

Main thinks people think of when they see Pirate Pistol, are the large 
clunky flintlock pistols.  The main reason they were full-stocked is 
these were not typically carried for extended periods, and that mass 
offset the recoil... Also after you fired your one shot, now you got a 
good heavy mace. The golden age of pirates though was prior to the 
percussion cap, and most percussion cap guns to not have quite the same 
shape of stock... well at least not the affordable ones.

If you are looking for a firing piece, there ya go... If you are 
looking just for somethign to tuck in your belt, you would probably be 
better off finding a non-firing replica.

-Takeda