Description
Saw Handle Target Pistol by Van Wart Sons & Co
Saw Handle Target Pistol by Van Wart Sons & Co. A very nice saw handle target pistol by Van Wart Sons & Co of London. With a 7 ½” rifled barrel, approximately .465″ bore in excellent condition, v-notch rear sight and dovetailed foresight with a set trigger. Weighing around 780 grams this is a lovely target pistol.
Van Wart Sons & co were based in Birmingham. When Colonel Colt won his first order of 4,000 Colt Navy Revolvers to the British Navy, Van Wart Sons & Co were contracted to provide the 4,000 necessary flasks (page 254 British Military Firearms 1650-1850 by Howard Blackmore).
Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels – the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Spurs on the trigger guards began appearing after around 1805 to provide a rest for the middle finger to improve the shooter’s grip. Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers.
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