Dahlgren pistol?

[ewmail15]

Has anyone heard of, or seen a Dahlgren pistol? I knew about the howitzer cannons, but today I found another newspaper clipping to add to my Merrill website. Google search didn't produce anything definitive at all.

https://jameshmerrilltribute.smugmug.com/Firearm-Related/Patented/Dahlgrens-Breech-Loading-Pistols/

While you're on the website, please check out all the additional information I've added. Spread the word that I'm looking for anyone who could contribute new/additional photos of Merrill-related firearms. Thanks, Eric.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

I would assume it would be .36 cal.

 

[sourdough]

Eric,

I have looked online and in my books for anything resembling a Dahlgren breechloading pistol, in name or function.

The auction advertisement you linked to is from the Baltimore Sun in 1868. The auction house states that it has 100 pairs (200 guns!), which I find to be an extraordinary amount of guns in one lot for something that there really seems to be of no record. It is curious to me that the ad has Dahlgren's in caps and quotation marks, whereas the Starr's pistols in the line just above it does not have said caps and quotation marks.

To my knowledge, Merrill never made pistols, but made at least 3 rifle/carbine/conversion long guns, all breechloaders.

Rear Admiral John Dahlgren (of Dahlgren Naval gun fame) was associated with the Washington Navy Yard in 1867 before being transferred to the South Pacific.

I am wondering if the said guns (whatever type) were obtained by the auction house from the Navy (who were most probably trying to reduce their inventory of many ACW guns), as Dahlgren was a high ranking ordnance officer there at that time.

That is the best I can come up with, sir!

Regards,

Jim

 

[ewmail15]

Thanks for investigating Jim. Thought I had a new find, but the way it's worded - what's 100 "pairs" of pistols??? Have to agree I jumped the gun, and it's likely Dahlgren the commander. Check out my other page alongside the Dahlgren, related to evidence that Merrill manufactured the Starr-patented derringers and pepperboxes. I might have the only referential link between Merrill and Starr for those handguns, via the newspaper clipping court case with testimony provided. After the war, information on what Merrill was doing with his 4-floor state-of-the-art manufactory is practically lost to history. Then, he changed businesses and converted the location to producing hominy.

 

[zburkett]

I hope someone knows more. It was my understanding that the Walker Colt was the most powerful hand gun until the .357 Magnum.

 

[sourdough]

I hope someone knows more. It was my understanding that the Walker Colt was the most powerful hand gun until the .357 Magnum.

That is true insofar as a revolver is concerned. The advertisement by the auction house does not state that the "DAHLGREN'S" pistols were revolvers, but were breechloaders, which would fit if Merrill produced single-shot pistols based upon his breechloader design.

Walkers were not breechloaders, and I don't even think that modern manufacturers make a cartridge conversion cylinder for it. They do for a replica Dragoon in .45 Colt, but don't even try to shoot magnum sized handloads in those.

Jim

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Yes, there are .45 LC conversion cylinders readily available for the Colt 1847 Walker revolver.
J.

 

[sourdough]

Yes, there are .45 LC conversion cylinders readily available for the Colt 1847 Walker revolver.
J.

Yes, but they shoot cartridge loads that are very anemic compared to the BP load in a Walker cylinder.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

sourdough - My reply was only in response to your comment of "...I don't even think that modern manufacturers make a cartridge conversion cylinder for it."
J.

 

[ewmail15]

Merrill manufactured the 4-barrel pepperbox and the single barrel derringer. That's all I've ever found as far as late/post Civil War firearms manufactured. At .41 caliber(per Rock Island Auction write-up), the single barrel derringer might have had a formidable kick. Maybe I can find more content at archive.org, babel.hathitrust.org on Admiral Dahlgren (bio or autobio) as far as books written near that time in history. May as well be more content in newspapers.com that I can search for tonight. Could very well be that whoever wrote up the advertisement misplaced Merrill as the manufacturer of the Dahlgren pairs, because Merrill manufactured the Starrs, the line above in the ad (Nov 19, 1868 The Baltimore Sun). Still, Merrill's Starr patented pistols could not have been holstered, as the use of the word "pairs" leads me to believe they would be holstered on each side of a soldier. What other purpose would the advertiser have had to use that word "pairs"?

 

[ewmail15]

I removed the Dahlgren page from my tribute website. Sure would be nice if anyone with Merrills would send some new photos my way...

 

[zburkett]

Could the "Dahlgren" refer to them being manufactured at the Dahlgren Naval Arsenal?

 

[ewmail15]

Just thought about Merrill's other, experimental/prototype breech-loading pistol on my website.

https://jameshmerrilltribute.smugmu.../Prototype/Prototype-Side-Hammer-Pistol-1855/

 

[JOHN42768]

With the description of "Pairs" I would lean toward dueling pistols