W. BAILES DUAL BARREL FLINTLOCK PISTOL by REPLICART
W. Bailes was one of London's best known Firearms makers. The revolving barrels of this dual barrel flintlock model allow for two shots to be fired. Features include simulated Damascus barrels, embossed simulated ivory grips and heavily embossed frame and lock. The ivory-like grip is highly detailed with animal carvings and features a sea dog beast head as a butt-cap. Measures 13 3/4 " in length and weighs in at 2.5 lbs. This deluxe non-firing model has been faithfully reproduced and has the same weight, feel, and handling characteristic of the rare and expensive W. Bailes original. Adjust the strike-plate, cock the hammer, pull the trigger and the hammer releases -rotate the barrel and fire again! Comes fully assembled and ready for display in your home or office.
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 alloys and durable polished simulated ivory. 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 USED IN BOARDING ATTACKS & MELEES
Unlike the rifle, pistols seemed to be a pirate's best friend. In most pictures of pirates, it is clear that a number of pistols were carried by each pirate. In most pictures of BlackBeard, at least a half dozen pistols, assumed loaded and ready, can be seen in his sash.
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.
Pistols came in in a variety of shapes and styles, from long to 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, most sea pistols had an effective range of only 3 or 4 yards. 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 double 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"! Some Pirates of the 18th century carried pistols similar to this multi-barrel flintlock in their raiding exploits. As such skirmishes rarely included time-outs for reloading, a cutlass would accompany the pistol. The double barrel flintlock narrowed those odds and was "double the pleasure, double the gun". |
