50 caliber pocket gun

[Leadeye]

A blast from the past, 50 caliber flintlock pocket pistol, circa late 1700s, French origin. It reminded me of the pistol used in this painting of the arrest of Robespierre by Charles Andre Meda during the Thermidor reaction. People tell me I crazy to do it, but I'm going to load it with FFFg and 50 caliber balls and shoot it as I can't find anything wrong with it. It throws good sparks with it's existing flint.

That's a 44-40 cartridge for scale.

 

[glenbo]

It's a beauty. What's the chance of getting someone to take a video from the side when you touch it off?

 

[ZX9RCAM]

.

 

[Leadeye]

I'll talk to my son and make sure we've got a target set up. I've restored and fired a number of old guns and I don't think this one is going to grenade.

 

[glenbo]

I didn't mean that, I'd just love to see the blast and sparks.

 

[Leadeye]

I'm curious to see how accurate it is at short distance like 3-5 yards. I was really surprised when I finished up the Merwin 7 shot 32, the accuracy was no different than a modern pocket gun.