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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: EDELWEISS]
      #384561 - 29/04/24 02:15 AM

Pistol locks work well for ML Howdah pistols. Too, it does
not take "much" of a blow to ignite (set off) a percussion cap.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39883
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Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: EDELWEISS]
      #384576 - 29/04/24 11:54 PM

When you say "we know", that's opinion not fact.

Why is it assumed Howdah pistols were "shortened long arm shotguns and rifles"?

I would be pretty sure they were made for the purpose. Or similar purposes to Howdah saddle use.

The Maharajah market was a lucrative market.

We might look a modifying long arms today as the Maharajah and Brit Officer, Senior Administrator Elephant Howdah hunting market today is non existent.

With the success of Rigby and other makers, I wonder if a Brit gunmaker designed and built an authentic Howdah pistol,hammers, rifled barrels, reasonable regulation, good cartridge chambering .500 or .577. I wonder how it would sell to the "must have" enthusiast market? Would not be cheap.

Howdah handguns suffer from being handguns. In the UK, illegal no domestic market. Large bore handguns can be a problem in some jurisdictions. "Sawn off" comparisons might be a problem in some places.

Practical uses are another market issue. Target shooting. Howdah competitions. Bear defence? Follow up secondary weapon on leopard, lion, other dangerous game? A 440 gr .500 or a 480 gr .577 or thereabouts must be quite effective at very close emergency range. But also a must have for every well heeled collector. A handfull a year would be enough at the prices no doubt required

What cartridges? If looking at a specialised design I'd go rimmed. Shorten a .500 NE and a 577 NE to a "Howdah pistol cartridge" length.

Lead bullets or jacketed? Some commercial jacketed projectiles do exist.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (29/04/24 11:59 PM)

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39883
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: NitroX]
      #384577 - 30/04/24 12:05 AM

Has it ever been established what velocity a 577 Snider, 70 grs BP, 480 grs bullet is shot at from a Howdah pistol? Or one of the other 577 Snider case modified versions?

Did Cal Pappas ever chronograph his Howdah? Anyone else?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (30/04/24 12:08 AM)

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: NitroX]
      #384579 - 30/04/24 12:39 AM

Here's an article on a short barreled .577 Howdah.

https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/the-577-howdah-pistol

"With 70 grains of FFg, velocity was over 1,000 fps with a round ball(approx.300gr.) and 775 fps with a conical bullet(440gr.)"

From a Pedersoli 20 bore with round ball of about 320gr.,
from clean barrel:
55gr. Phony powder - 826fps
60gr. " - 843fps
70gr. " - 910fps

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: DarylS]
      #384580 - 30/04/24 12:46 AM

Would be illegal in Canada to make one from a SxS or any shotgun.
If coming from a licensed manufacturer of firearms, barrel lengths as short as 12" are known (mare's leg m94), but the overall length must be 26".

For the citizen, a shotgun barrel or barrels can be shortened to a minimum of 18", however the gun must be over 26" overall length. So, if shortened to 18" and a pistol grip put on it, it would be a prohibited device/firearm if under 26" overall length.

Illegal to "make" a pistol out of a shotgun.

Used to be legal to make a muzzleloading or even a ctg. pistol, but of course had to be registered as it would be a restricted firearm.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39883
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: The Howdah Discussion thread [Re: DarylS]
      #384600 - 30/04/24 08:53 PM

Quote:

Here's an article on a short barreled .577 Howdah.

https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/the-577-howdah-pistol

"With 70 grains of FFg, velocity was over 1,000 fps with a round ball(approx.300gr.) and 775 fps with a conical bullet(440gr.)"

From a Pedersoli 20 bore with round ball of about 320gr.,
from clean barrel:
55gr. Phony powder - 826fps
60gr. " - 843fps
70gr. " - 910fps



An article by Cal Pappas.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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