Original Item: One of a Kind. Just acquired from a recent antique gun show, this is a very nice British three barrel pistol with turn off barrels for loading. On the left side there is a switch so one can decide which barrel will discharge. The pan has a rolling compartment each to serve one of the barrels so effectively the shooter has two additional shots at his disposal directly after the first barrel has been fired. Technically two barrels can be fired at a time, but that is not the intended use. This type of mechanism is known as a "tap action," and while most were 2 barrel, there were even examples made with 3 such as this example, or even 4 barrels. There is also a slide safety mechanism rear of the hammer, which locks the pan closed until the hammer is fully cocked.

This pistol was originally made in flintlock, however at some point it was actually converted to percussion, something we have really never seen on a "tap action" gun before. The ignition method almost requires there to be significant priming powder to ensure that the charge in the barrel is ignited. In this case, the frizzen was replaced with a door over the flash pan, which has a cap nipple cone on the top, which is struck by the percussion hammer. We do not know if additional powder was usually loaded under the door, but we did note that the safety still holds the door closed as it would have with the frizzen. The workmanship on the percussion hammer is VERY high, so this was a conversion done by a gunsmith, probably in England.

The barrels are steel, with engraved steel boxlock, and it is fitted with a very nice flat sided walnut grip. The left side of the frame is marked CARTMELL and the other side is marked DONCASTER, for Thomas Cartmell, a known maker of these types of pistols. Based in Doncaster, Yorkshire, he operated worked from approximately 1817 to 1829 on High Street. After passing away at the age of 58, the company continued as T. Cartmell & Son. This pistol was most likely made circa 1820 and would have been perfect for an overcoat pocket for self defense or for a serving Officer to carry concealed in case of emergency.

The weapon measures 7 1/4" in overall length with a screw off 2" smoothbore barrels, which are in good shape, still showing the usual wear and oxidation on the interior. They are unfortunately all seized at present, and we do not have the proper wrench to engage the grooves at the muzzle to apply more force. The bottom of the tap action has the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the English city of Birmingham on the top near the breech, used from 1813 to 1855 for black powder arms. The barrels are numbered 1 through 3, and have matching numbers stamped on their respective breeches.

The action is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full, though it does take a strong trigger pull to get the hammer to fire. The tap action moves correctly, as does the safety, making this a really nice example. As with many we see, it has a fold-out trigger that only appears when the action is fully cocked, which then must be manually returned to the closed position. Condition is very good, with a lovely lightly oxidized patina on the metalwork, and no signs of major oxidation or cleaning. The engraving on the box lock is still crisp, and there are engraved designs elsewhere. The grip is in lovely condition, showing no major damage, just the usual denting from use and age.

A lovely circa 1800 Triple Barrel tap action pistol by a known British maker, ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1820
Caliber: about .37" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 2 inches
Overall Length: 7 1/4 inches
Action: Flintlock Top Action with Pan Tap
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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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.

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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.