Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic Victorian Era British Over-Under Double Barrel percussion pistol, featuring a fantastic "Turn-Over" style swivel breech. It is a very ornate example marked on the sides of the "box-lock" on banners with LEACH on the left and CHELMSFORD on the right. This is a known maker of high quality firearms during the mid 19th century, working under various names from 1839-69. The spelling of the last name is definitely a source of variation, as spellings Leech and Leetch have also been seen. All point to J. Leach & Son, and we have seen many other fine examples by this maker.

The pistol is definitely of very high quality, with a polished bright steel frame and heavily blued barrels. There is lovely acanthus leaf engraving on both sides of the frame, surrounding the small banners that bear the maker name. There is also a fantastic "fish" engraved into the hammer, with additional acanthus leaves on the sides, and the breech ends of the barrel shows some lovely engraving as well. These were quite popular for self-protection, and were easily concealable in a vest pocket. Pistols like this were equally at home on dark Streets of New York or of London in Victorian England. We assume it was bespoke, and in this case packed twice the potential for use, as there was a shot ready in reserve.

The pistol measures 7 1/4 inches in overall length, featuring double 2 1/2 inch "turn off" .42" caliber smoothbore barrels, which made re-loading and cleaning the pistol a much easier process. They feature star wrench grooves at the muzzles, and unlike most that we have seen, the screw joints are actually still free, and the barrels can easily be removed! They are mounted to a rotating breech / cap bolster, which can be moved back and forth at half cock to bring either barrel into battery. One side of the bolster is marked with both the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "black powder proof" mark and the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" mark from the from the city of Birmingham, England proofhouse. These are the style of markings in use until 1855.

The pistol follows the classic style, and is fitted with a very nice "bag" shaped curved grip, which is in fantastic shape. It is heavily checkered on both sides, which is still very well retained, and there is an oval silver escutcheon on the back of the wrist, which is blank and tarnished. It has some lovely features that make it very useful as a vest pocket pistol, including trigger that only folds out when the pistol is fully cocked, which prevents it from getting caught on the clothing. It also has a great sliding half cock safety. The lock is fully functional, holding at half-cock and firing at full. The folding trigger folds out at full cock, and must be manually returned to the closed position after firing.

A fantastic mid 19th Century British vest pocket percussion pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Bore Diameter: .42" pistol
Ammunition Type: Cap & Ball
Barrel Length: 2 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 7 1/4 inches
Action: Top-Action "Box-Lock"
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded Turn-Over

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.