A BRIEF Intro to the " All Steel Highland Scots Pistol"

[puffer]

Those are absolutly fantastic.

Any insight as to when and why such artistic touches fell out of "fashion" for weapons?

"Artistc touches" have NEVER fallen out of "style" if you mean "weapons in general. But in relation to the HSP, the I suggest http://www.engravingforum.com/showth...t=1391&page=15
&/or Printed suggestiions
1. Very GOOD & inexpensie book ( BASICS)
"SCOTTISH FIREARMS" by Claude Blair and Robert Woosnam-Savage
ISBN 0-919316-31-X

2. One of the best (IMHO)) but expensive
"The Scottish Pistol - Its History,Manufacture,and Design By Martin Kelvin
ISBN I-900541-157 & 0-8386-3745-0


Puffer

[puffer]

Outstanding, very interesting thread you all have going here. After seeing these images I want one or three. Afraid I do not have the cash to be finding another interest though. If anyone is interested in some antique Scottish weapons I found a link awhile back that had some cool but very very expensive items for sale.

http://www.scottishsword.com/TheSwords.htm

NOT FAIR The Baskethilts, in the antique section, DEMANDS I WIN THE LOTTERY ASAP

Puffer

[Dirk Skene]

All Steel :crap: I'll bet that bad boy kicked like a mule with a full charge.

[Kerr the Walker]

All Steel :crap: I'll bet that bad boy kicked like a mule with a full charge.

In all actuality, they probably kicked less than their wooden handled brethren. The all steel pistol would have more mass for the recoil to move, where as the wooden variety would not have that mass to absorb the energy and thus your arm would have to pick up the slack.

Great thread! Some very interesting stuff. I am impressed daily at how well read the members of this group are and the free flow of information.

[haxtonhouse]

Were there any highland pistols made with wood?

[puffer]

Were there any highland pistols made with wood?

YES & NO

Explanation :

1. NO, if you restrict your definition of the "highland pistol" to the "style we have been discussig.

2. YES, if you expand your definition to include the following:
a.Highland Snaphances - The snaphance was the "lock style" that preceeded the "flintlock" (made & used until ca 1730)
1. Like the Highland flintlock", the Highland Snaplance lock, was "unique"
2. Incorperated the "ball" trigger & no trigger guard.
3. Wood used - Primary wood seems to be "Brazil-wood" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilwood ) According to Claude Blair & Robert Woosman-Savage, the "Highland Scots were the only ones that used this wood for pistol stocks. Other woods used, included rose wood, ebony etc.
Here is a picture of a Highland Snaphance ( ca late 1600s)

b. Highland Flintlocks - some ( sorry I have no pictures)

I hope this helps

Puffer

[Donnie]

Awsome post!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Probably the best reproduction pistols of this era that I have ever seen or shot were made by Dale Shinn (email: dgshinn@earthlink.net) who lives up in the Sacramento, CA area.

Dale, by the way, is an English Civil War reenactor (and has been since I met him when I was at G&A back in the mid-70s) and is Captain of the Duke Of Montrose's Artillery Company. Cool stuff.

If you Google Dale Shinn you will be able to see examples of his work.

[Woodsheal]

Oh, yeah! I forgot about Mr Shinn. Fantastic work! He even makes wheel-locks, probably the most complex period firearm mechanism. I remember his Swedish "leather gun" artillery piece at the big ECW event there in Staunton back in the Fall of '98 (It WAS '98, wasn't it? I fought with a combined unit that weekend that included MacKay's)....

[BoldHighlander]

(It WAS '98, wasn't it? I fought with a combined unit that weekend that included MacKay's)....

Is that Lee Offen's group?
There isn't much in the way of Thirty Years War /ECW reenactment out this way, unless your in California.
I'm working on a solo interpretation for my clan booth.