Belgian double barrel pistols.

[archieclement]

I seen one presented in an auction, and hadn't heard much about them before, nor does it seem easy to date them. Because copyrights I won't post a pic, but an image search will return many variations. Most simply date them as 19th century.

The advantage over single shot pistols would seem obvious before revolvers became common. Does anyone know how common they would have been in the US? Or any known usage during ACW, as see some ACW pictures still with single shots.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I don't think they were really common, America being the home of the revolver, and single shots were everywhere for bargain prices.

But, one instance I know of is the CSS Sumter. When they outfitted her in New Orleans the main small arms they had available is a bunch of double barrel pistols. The actual number, maker, model, caliber and so on I've no idea off hand.

 

[Papabyrd]

I have a small boot pistol looks like 32 maybe 36 caliber percussion double barrel. It has 2 hammers but only one trigger. You have to cock and fire one barrel at a time. You can't cock both barrels at the same time. It is marked Spalding & Fisher between the barrels but I think they were just the disturbers. It looks like an Allen & Wheellock single shot I have but with 2 barrels. There is no place to put a ramrod and looks like it never was. So the ramrod had to be carried separately. Whole gun is about 7 or 8 inches long just right to drop in the top of a boot.

 

[rob63]

Attached is a photo of one I took at the old Gettysburg visitor center. I don't believe it is on display in the new visitor center.