Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a lovely late Victorian era British "Parlor" Pistol, designed to use a .28 rimfire cartridge of some sort. At the time, as strange as it might seem today, indoor shooting at home or in a shooting parlor was relatively common. Special small caliber low propellant load rifles and pistols were designed, and this is one such example, which looks to be very well made.
The pistol measures 12 1/2 inches in overall length, with a barrel 8 inches long, and does not have any maker markings that we can find. In fact, the only marking present is a CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marking from the Birmingham Gun Company proof house, so this looks to be a British example, or at least the barrel is. This example is a "tip up" design, a type of top break where the barrel pivot is farther forward, so the barrel tips "up" for reloading. In this case there is a second trigger in front of the trigger guard that unlocks the breech for reloading. The breech is also stepped so that the bottom of the cartridge can be removed by hand. This of course results in a very poor gas seal, but it was more than adequate for a gun designed to shoot inside a house. The pistol is fired using the lower trigger inside the trigger guard, and has a standard external rimfire hammer, which sill has functional half and full cock positions.
The pistol is in very good used condition, looking to have seen a good amount of use during its life. Cleaning and past oxidation have removed the original finish for the most part, and the metalwork now displays an overall matte gray patina. We can see however that there originally was a good amount of decorative engraving, so this was originally an upmarket example. It has a lovely checkered wood grip with a bone accent just above the butt cap, and a nickel silver escutcheon on the back of the grip. There is some wear and a bit of cracking near the frame, but it is still solid. We checked the bore, and it is quite worn, displaying worn rifling with overall past oxidation and fouling. This is definitely a pistol that saw extensive use.
A lovely example of an interesting piece of firearms history, ready to research and display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1890
Caliber: .28cal
Ammunition Type: rimfire cartridge
Overall Length: 12 1/2 inches
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Action: Top break / Tip Up External Hammer
Feed System: Single Shot
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.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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 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.
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