ITALIAN TRIPLE-BARREL PIRATE FLINTLOCK PISTOL by DENIX
The original of this particular flintlock pistol was made by Lorenzi in Italy in about 1680 and the engraved coat of arms is that of the famous Medici family. This non-firing version is accurately detailed The unique three barrel design carries the Medici Arms seal. Simulated engraved ivory grips and engraved simulated antiqued brass furniture. Comes fully assembled and ready for display in your home or office. - a great costume and conversation piece.
Note: You must 18 years of age or older to purchase this pistol. These handsome collector model guns are made of antique finished zinc cast metal and polished European hardwood. The screw heads are molded into the metal and cannot be removed. These models cannot withstand misuse or excessive dry-firing. Cannot be made to fire real ammunition.
FLINTLOCK PISTOL MELEES
The mid- to late 17th century was the heyday of the pirate trade, and pitched battles at sea between armed sailing ships were common. Marines carried muskets, but for sailors the pistol and cutlass combination made far more sense. Sailors who could get a loaded pistol could readily board an enemy vessel, fire a shot, use the emptied gun as a small club, and swing a cutlass all the time. Moreover, pistols being what they were and boarding attacks being virtual mob assaults, one did not need to be much of a marksman. An enemy was usually only a few feet away if that far. Anyone armed with a musket would have found it far more hindrance than help. Specialized weapons were developed for such melees, one of them being the multi barrel Flintlock Pistol.
"Flintlock" pistols were so called because the lock uses a flint to strike sparks into the priming pan when the trigger is pulled. A small amount of gunpowder in this pan is ignited, which in turn ignites the main gunpowder charge in the barrel, firing the lead ball. Both the main charge and the ball were loaded from the front, or muzzle, of the barrel, after which the priming charge was poured into the pan – all very time consuming! Often the priming charge would burn but fail to ignite the main charge – whence the expression "flash in the pan"! Pirates of the 18th century carried pistols similar to this French flintlock in their raiding exploits. As such skirmishes rarely included time-outs for reloading, a cutlass would accompany the pistol.
The pistols came in long and short barrel versions, approx 9 inches and 12 inches long, with a bore of about 0.56 inches. The butt had a rounded and sometimes metal base (known as a skull crusher butt cap) so the pistol could be used as a club once fired. Issued either singularly or in pairs, the sea pistol had an effective range of only 3 or 4 yards.
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