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![]() Antique DAWES “Tap Action” DOUBLE BARREL Superposed .44 FLINTLOCK Pistol English OVER/UNDER Made LATE 1700S to EARLY 1800s Guns International #: 102549066 Seller's Inventory #: 234035 Category: Antique Pistols - 1500-1850 - Antique Pistols - Flintlock Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: AncestryGunsLLC Company: Ancestry Guns LLC Member Since: 11/3/16 State: Missouri Zip: 65203 Country: United States Phone: (314) 707-7373 International Phone: 314-707-7373 Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 1072 Total Number of Listings: 42446 Seller: FFL Dealer Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Types Accepted: Credit Card, Certified Check, Money Order Description: Antique DAWES “Tap Action” DOUBLE BARREL Superposed .44 FLINTLOCK Pistol English OVER/UNDER Made LATE 1700S to EARLY 1800s Here we present an antique Dawes Tap Action Over/Under Flintlock Self Defense Pistol, made circa the late 1700s to early 1800s in London, England. From the time that firearms were introduced, gunsmiths had experimented with various ways to turn those single shot weapons into multi-shot weapons. Prior to the use of “repeating” arms, one of the most successful systems was to use multiple barrels, each with their own load and charge. In Great Britain many pocket pistols were produced with two or four barrels, and sometimes even more. The downside to most of these early designs was that occasionally all the barrels would discharge at the same time. This low reliability resulted in many problems, none being less than the inability to get off a second shot quickly. The Tap Action solved that problem. This flintlock design usually incorporated two barrels, one over the other. A manually rotated flash chamber in the frame allowed the shooter to fire each barrel individually or fire them at the same time. With the “tap” in the up position, only the flash hole to the upper barrel was exposed to the spark generated by the powder in the pan. With the “tap” in the down position, the flash channel connected to the chamber of the bottom barrel. The lower tap was dished to contain powder, so that after the upper barrel was fired, all you had to do was flip the side lever to reorient the tap, re-cock the pistol, and fire the lower barrel. This little self-defense pistol would have been most at home in the pocket of anyone in the busy cities of London during the late 1700s to the very early 1800s. This pistol is small, light and simple. The “Pocket Pistol” name says it all. They were the "Saturday Night Specials" of the 18th-19th century. Before the Deringer, they were "Gentleman's" or "Muff Pistols", typically, a smaller pistol that was easily concealed. They were favored among the gentry and women because of these traits. Men would carry them concealed in a waistcoat pocket and women would hide them in a hand muff. The overall condition is good. Good bores. The action functions, but the hammer spring is weak, thus will not drop. Legible markings. Solid grip. Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction. Barrels are 3 inches. Caliber: .42 Flintlock Overall condition as seen in photos. Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail! Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. ancestryguns $1500 #234035 SOLD Antique: Yes |