Anyone know what kind of pepperbox this is?

SouthronPatriot · March 5, 2013, 09:54 PM

Hello, I purchased a group of pepperbox pistols and unsure about the type of one. It appears modern, 1950-1990's mfg, a smaller caliber (maybe .31?), and it doesn't have any percussion nipples...only small unthreaded holes Anyone know what kind of pepperbox this is so I can research it further? How does it fire without nipples to put the caps? Thanks!

**Mike Irwin** · March 5, 2013, 10:22 PM

Never seen anything like it...

I wonder if it used paper caps, like Maynard tape primer caps, or even kid's cap gun caps, as priming.

It's definitely not a pin fire.

mete · March 5, 2013, 10:52 PM

Looks like like a fairly modern home made gun with a tape primer system.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 6, 2013, 07:15 AM

looks like it uses the old rolls of red cap gun caps...

Newton24b · March 6, 2013, 07:45 AM

theatrical propgun? i have never seen an original pepperbox that had the barrels held together by SCREWS. they were either machined as one solid piece, or assembled like a double barrel shotgun.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 6, 2013, 07:56 AM

the more I look at it. the cooler I think it is...

I only have one in my collection, a Sharpes & Hankin 4 barrel 32 rimfire with a rotating firing pin on the hammer... everything seems to work on mine, & I picked up a couple of boxes of Navy Arms reproduction ammo several years ago, but so far, mine remains unfired by me...

got any pics of your other peppers ???

FrankenMauser · March 6, 2013, 02:29 PM

Looks like it was a home-build.

Most definitely...
No right-minded manufacturer would put a screw inside the trigger guard, or leave some of those welds so obvious.

Bill DeShivs · March 6, 2013, 03:26 PM

There are no welds visible.
The nipples are removed-simply unscrewed.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 6, 2013, 03:37 PM

I would question the need / use of nipples, with the flaps that cover each hole ???

**Mike Irwin** · March 6, 2013, 04:23 PM

Bill, note that the OP said the holes are unthreaded. How do you screw a nipple into something that doesn't have threads?

And, as Magnum noted, there are the flaps...

Bill DeShivs · March 6, 2013, 06:30 PM

I missed the unthreaded part. Assuming they WERE threaded, the flaps would hold the caps in place during rotation, andshield the user from flying cap fragments.

James K · March 6, 2013, 06:38 PM

I think it does use paper caps. The "flaps" clamp down on the caps to keep them in place, and the hammer hits the "flap" and crushes the cap between the flap and the barrel.

Jim

BillM · March 6, 2013, 06:39 PM

Homemade. Someone with W-A-Y to much time on their
hands. Looks smoothbore?

I'm going to guess that it's method of ignition was:

Mattel Greenie Stik-M-Caps.

http://www.majormattmason.net/633.htm

FrankenMauser · March 7, 2013, 04:57 AM

Quote:

There are no welds visible.

Take a closer look at the chamber end of the barrels, the trigger guard, and the frame.

Some one welded it up, and did 'just enough' cleanup to make it look like it wasn't made from a junk pile.

I still like it, and would love to have it.
I'm simply saying that I think it was home-built.

fdreano · March 7, 2013, 09:03 AM

I wouldn't shoot that thing on a whiskey bet. The poorer examples of these (and this is certainly one) had a reputation for intermittently firing all of the barrels at once.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 7, 2013, 09:12 AM

that one will not fire all the barrels at once, with the flap design...

nice thing about muzzleloaders, you can carge it as low as you want, as long as the charge covers the flash hole

**Mike Irwin** · March 7, 2013, 10:39 AM

BillM,

I don't believe that those caps haven't been available since the early 1970s, have they?

Makes some sense, though, as otherwise paper caps would probably just shift out of place...

I'm guessing that this pistol dates from that time, or a bit later...

PetahW · March 7, 2013, 11:13 AM

'

It brings new meaning to the term "cap pistol". .

.

James K · March 7, 2013, 01:20 PM

Having no idea what the barrels are made from (iron water pipe?) I sure wouldn't want to fire that thing. But it does show some ingenuity, though.

Jim

BoogieMan · March 8, 2013, 07:08 AM

Barrels look to be made from hex rod. Is there another piece of hex in the center to mount barrels to? How do you index the barrels. Is there a spring detent or just by eye?
I love checking stuff like that out in person. Very cool piece. I dont think I would be willing to take the first pull on a loaded chamber.

bbqncigars · March 8, 2013, 08:51 PM

I vote for the roll cap. The flaps are spring loaded and would clamp the roll cap in place for firing. Also, those greenie stickum caps could be bastards to remove, and I don't see them being easily accessible in this design.

Bob Wright · March 8, 2013, 09:04 PM

Most of ya'll are forgetting sheet caps, made by the old Kilgore firm. They were like stamps used to come maybe forty or fifty to a sheet? These were used in the old double barreled "Pirate Pistols" of the day.

And, indeed, a paper cap will set off a blackpowder charge. We used copper pipe for barrels and would shoot a steel ball bearing through a 1 x 6 board.

My first home made gun had a real hammer~my Dad's claw hammer.

Bob Wright

Bill DeShivs · March 9, 2013, 12:38 AM

Anybody ever hit a roll of caps with a hammer?
Wow!

ScottRiqui · March 9, 2013, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Anybody ever hit a roll of caps with a hammer?
Wow!

I probably used up more caps that way then I ever did running them through my cap pistols!

FrankenMauser · March 9, 2013, 02:45 AM

And no reply from SouthronPatriot....

March 5, 2013, 09:54 PM	#1
SouthronPatriot Junior Member Join Date: March 4, 2013 Posts: 2	Anyone know what kind of pepperbox this is? Hello, I purchased a group of pepperbox pistols and unsure about the type of one. It appears modern, 1950-1990's mfg, a smaller caliber (maybe .31?), and it doesn't have any percussion nipples...only small unthreaded holes Anyone know what kind of pepperbox this is so I can research it further? How does it fire without nipples to put the caps? Thanks!

March 5, 2013, 10:22 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Never seen anything like it... I wonder if it used paper caps, like Maynard tape primer caps, or even kid's cap gun caps, as priming. It's definitely not a pin fire. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 5, 2013, 10:52 PM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Looks like like a fairly modern home made gun with a tape primer system. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

March 6, 2013, 07:15 AM	#4
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	looks like it uses the old rolls of red cap gun caps... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 6, 2013, 07:56 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	the more I look at it. the cooler I think it is... I only have one in my collection, a Sharpes & Hankin 4 barrel 32 rimfire with a rotating firing pin on the hammer... everything seems to work on mine, & I picked up a couple of boxes of Navy Arms reproduction ammo several years ago, but so far, mine remains unfired by me... got any pics of your other peppers ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 6, 2013, 07:45 AM	#5
Newton24b Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Posts: 974	theatrical propgun? i have never seen an original pepperbox that had the barrels held together by SCREWS. they were either machined as one solid piece, or assembled like a double barrel shotgun.

March 6, 2013, 02:29 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Looks like it was a home-build. Most definitely... No right-minded manufacturer would put a screw inside the trigger guard, or leave some of those welds so obvious. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 6, 2013, 03:26 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	There are no welds visible. The nipples are removed-simply unscrewed. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

March 6, 2013, 03:37 PM	#9
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I would question the need / use of nipples, with the flaps that cover each hole ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 6, 2013, 04:23 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Bill, note that the OP said the holes are unthreaded. How do you screw a nipple into something that doesn't have threads? And, as Magnum noted, there are the flaps... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 6, 2013, 06:30 PM	#11
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	I missed the unthreaded part. Assuming they WERE threaded, the flaps would hold the caps in place during rotation, andshield the user from flying cap fragments. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

March 6, 2013, 06:38 PM	#12
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think it does use paper caps. The "flaps" clamp down on the caps to keep them in place, and the hammer hits the "flap" and crushes the cap between the flap and the barrel. Jim

March 6, 2013, 06:39 PM	#13
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Homemade. Someone with W-A-Y to much time on their hands. Looks smoothbore? I'm going to guess that it's method of ignition was: Mattel Greenie Stik-M-Caps. http://www.majormattmason.net/633.htm

March 7, 2013, 09:03 AM	#15
fdreano Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Posts: 174	I wouldn't shoot that thing on a whiskey bet. The poorer examples of these (and this is certainly one) had a reputation for intermittently firing all of the barrels at once.

March 7, 2013, 09:12 AM	#16
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	that one will not fire all the barrels at once, with the flap design... nice thing about muzzleloaders, you can carge it as low as you want, as long as the charge covers the flash hole __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 7, 2013, 10:39 AM	#17
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	BillM, I don't believe that those caps haven't been available since the early 1970s, have they? Makes some sense, though, as otherwise paper caps would probably just shift out of place... I'm guessing that this pistol dates from that time, or a bit later... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 7, 2013, 11:13 AM	#18
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	' It brings new meaning to the term "cap pistol". . . .

March 7, 2013, 01:20 PM	#19
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Having no idea what the barrels are made from (iron water pipe?) I sure wouldn't want to fire that thing. But it does show some ingenuity, though. Jim

March 8, 2013, 07:08 AM	#20
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Barrels look to be made from hex rod. Is there another piece of hex in the center to mount barrels to? How do you index the barrels. Is there a spring detent or just by eye? I love checking stuff like that out in person. Very cool piece. I dont think I would be willing to take the first pull on a loaded chamber. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 8, 2013, 08:51 PM	#21
bbqncigars Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 525	I vote for the roll cap. The flaps are spring loaded and would clamp the roll cap in place for firing. Also, those greenie stickum caps could be bastards to remove, and I don't see them being easily accessible in this design. __________________ "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant

March 8, 2013, 09:04 PM	#22
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Most of ya'll are forgetting sheet caps, made by the old Kilgore firm. They were like stamps used to come maybe forty or fifty to a sheet? These were used in the old double barreled "Pirate Pistols" of the day. And, indeed, a paper cap will set off a blackpowder charge. We used copper pipe for barrels and would shoot a steel ball bearing through a 1 x 6 board. My first home made gun had a real hammer~my Dad's claw hammer. Bob Wright

March 9, 2013, 12:38 AM	#23
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Anybody ever hit a roll of caps with a hammer? Wow! __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

March 9, 2013, 02:45 AM	#25
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	And no reply from SouthronPatriot.... __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.