Lillith 0 Posted June 15, 2011 Could someone please tell me the name of that pistol, or the year? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XDJohnTact 49 Posted June 15, 2011 I'm betting that thing started out as a rifle? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest schutzen-jager Posted June 15, 2011 what caliber ? - looks like a martini rifle converted to a pistol - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KpdPipes 388 Posted June 15, 2011 Martini-Henry action...interesting conversion i'm wondering if it isnt in .455 Webley or something similar. It's almost certainly a Khyber-pass special Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pew Pew Plates 358 Posted June 15, 2011 Used to protect against lions and such off of elephants in india or something crazy like that, I believe generically called "howdah" pistols Edit: "The term "howdah pistol" comes from the howdah, a large saddle mounted on the back of an elephant. Hunters, especially during the period of the British Raj in India, used howdahs as a platform for hunting wild animals and needed large-calibre side-arms for protection from animal attacks.[2] The first howdah pistols were little more than sawn-off rifles,[2] typically in .577 Snider[3] or .577/450 Martini-Henry calibre." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old School 611 Posted June 15, 2011 Used to protect against lions and such off of elephants in india or something crazy like that, I believe generically called "howdah" pistols Edit: "The term "howdah pistol" comes from the howdah, a large saddle mounted on the back of an elephant. Hunters, especially during the period of the British Raj in India, used howdahs as a platform for hunting wild animals and needed large-calibre side-arms for protection from animal attacks.[2] The first howdah pistols were little more than sawn-off rifles,[2] typically in .577 Snider[3] or .577/450 Martini-Henry calibre." Agreed Glenn Looks like an aka "Tower"/howdah pistol. Converted from a Martini rifle. BTW it was tigers not lions... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenw 293 Posted June 15, 2011 Agreed Glenn Looks like an aka "Tower"/howdah pistol. Converted from a Martini rifle. BTW it was tigers not lions... ... or bears. Oh, my. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lillith 0 Posted June 17, 2011 I believe it is a 45th caliber. And does somebody knows the worth of it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pizza Bob 1,488 Posted June 17, 2011 Well, somebody has to say it: If this is indeed converted from a Martini actioned rifle (and it certainly looks that way), aren't there some legal issues? Especially since this is NJ where at some point water pistols will probably be considered firearms. Maybe some federal issues also? Just asking. Adios, Pizza Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XDJohnTact 49 Posted June 17, 2011 You would have to have some big ba!!s to try and shoot that thing! =@ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
halbautomatisch 60 Posted June 18, 2011 Well, somebody has to say it: If this is indeed converted from a Martini actioned rifle (and it certainly looks that way), aren't there some legal issues? Especially since this is NJ where at some point water pistols will probably be considered firearms. Maybe some federal issues also? Just asking. Adios, Pizza Bob Don't know, but it's not an SBR since it doesn't have a stock. It's more than likely an antique (at least federally) since those were made before 1898. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest schutzen-jager Posted June 18, 2011 Well, somebody has to say it: If this is indeed converted from a Martini actioned rifle (and it certainly looks that way), aren't there some legal issues? Especially since this is NJ where at some point water pistols will probably be considered firearms. Maybe some federal issues also? Just asking. Adios, Pizza Bob if imported as a pistol it is legal - if converted in usa with out atf form , approval , + tax payment it is illegal - if manufactured prior to 1898 it is legal in either form under federal law but not nj law - i think that it is too crude to be a howdah pistol - caliber is probably .450//577 martini - see if chamber is bottle necked - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lillith 0 Posted June 18, 2011 if imported as a pistol it is legal - if converted in usa with out atf form , approval , + tax payment it is illegal - if manufactured prior to 1898 it is legal in either form under federal law but not nj law - i think that it is too crude to be a howdah pistol - caliber is probably .450//577 martini - see if chamber is bottle necked - We're in Europe but nobody actually answered my questions but thats alright too and thank you all anyway Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XDJohnTact 49 Posted June 18, 2011 You asked us to identify that pistol? The consensus was it was not a pistol but a converted/shortened rifle. AFAIK, it is probably worth very little. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest schutzen-jager Posted June 18, 2011 We're in Europe but nobody actually answered my questions but thats alright too and thank you all anyway with out more detailed information or detailed close up picture it's impossible to do - all i can tell you is that it is a martini henry style action , they were made from late 1800's till well into the 1900's - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites