help identify please

vacation · July 22, 2011, 11:00 PM

I purchased this at an auction, its about 10" long. It has "3 dot" marks in four places on the gun and proof mark. It came in a glass case with civil war mini balls and a georgia state militia confederate button....is this pistol civil war era perhaps?

Hawg · July 23, 2011, 06:21 AM

It's a type of boot pistol commonly used during the period.

SDC · July 23, 2011, 06:26 AM

The general pattern would certainly have been around during the Civil War, but the proof mark is very weird; it resembles the French St. Etienne mark of a crown over crossed palms, but I can't find any examples with the "SEE" lettering. Both the French and the Belgians would have made as many of this type of pistol as they could churn out at the time, and the pattern hung around until these were replaced by cartridge guns towards the end of the 1800s.

vacation · July 23, 2011, 08:53 AM

Could it be "SFE" in the proof as opposed to "SEE"?
There are "3 dot" markings on the hammer, barrel and under the trigger guard. The dots are in a triangular shape...does this help identify it? I appreciate your efforts.

Thanks.

James K · July 23, 2011, 07:05 PM

It is the French St. Etienne proof (Wirnsberger, P. 132), but that source says it dates only from 1869, which I would think a bit late for that kind of pistol, unless it was made for the colonial trade. Anyway, no doubt as to its country of origin. It has little collector interest or value, at least in the U.S. Retail might be $100+ as a novelty.

Civil War? Unless Wirnsberger is wrong, no. It is, however the kind of pistol that was sometimes carried by soldiers for close up defense. I suspect the person who put the exhibit together didn't bother to check further.

Jim

florida Mike · July 23, 2011, 07:47 PM

My buddy has a Belgen double barrel one that his dad dug up.

m&p45acp10+1 · August 12, 2011, 03:09 PM

It is definately a boot pistol. I have 2 of them that I inherited from my grampa. This is one that he donated to a museum. It has a folding knife on it. One of the two I have in the safe does not have the knife on it. Here is a pic of the one grampa donated to the museum.

Note the one in the pic is a .32 cal. The two I have are both .36 cal.

gyvel · August 13, 2011, 01:07 AM

It's not "SEE" or "SFE". The large "E" is "Eprovee" and the smaller "S E" is "St. Etienne."

July 23, 2011, 06:26 AM	#3
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	The general pattern would certainly have been around during the Civil War, but the proof mark is very weird; it resembles the French St. Etienne mark of a crown over crossed palms, but I can't find any examples with the "SEE" lettering. Both the French and the Belgians would have made as many of this type of pistol as they could churn out at the time, and the pattern hung around until these were replaced by cartridge guns towards the end of the 1800s. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

August 12, 2011, 03:09 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	It is definately a boot pistol. I have 2 of them that I inherited from my grampa. This is one that he donated to a museum. It has a folding knife on it. One of the two I have in the safe does not have the knife on it. Here is a pic of the one grampa donated to the museum. Note the one in the pic is a .32 cal. The two I have are both .36 cal. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

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July 23, 2011, 06:21 AM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It's a type of boot pistol commonly used during the period.

July 23, 2011, 08:53 AM	#4
vacation Member Join Date: January 15, 2010 Location: Branson, MO Posts: 48	Could it be "SFE" in the proof as opposed to "SEE"? There are "3 dot" markings on the hammer, barrel and under the trigger guard. The dots are in a triangular shape...does this help identify it? I appreciate your efforts. Thanks.

July 23, 2011, 07:05 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It is the French St. Etienne proof (Wirnsberger, P. 132), but that source says it dates only from 1869, which I would think a bit late for that kind of pistol, unless it was made for the colonial trade. Anyway, no doubt as to its country of origin. It has little collector interest or value, at least in the U.S. Retail might be $100+ as a novelty. Civil War? Unless Wirnsberger is wrong, no. It is, however the kind of pistol that was sometimes carried by soldiers for close up defense. I suspect the person who put the exhibit together didn't bother to check further. Jim

July 23, 2011, 07:47 PM	#6
florida Mike Junior Member Join Date: July 20, 2011 Posts: 2	My buddy has a Belgen double barrel one that his dad dug up.

August 13, 2011, 01:07 AM	#8
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	It's not "SEE" or "SFE". The large "E" is "Eprovee" and the smaller "S E" is "St. Etienne."