Antique miniature weapons
July 13th, 2007Hello again people, today we are going to talk about antique miniature weapons (or mini-guns as i call them), an enjoyable topic. Is interesting to know that miniature firearms started to be interesting since 19th century. Some famous examples are the miniature Colt revolvers and many flint-lock and pin fire pistols (these are my favorites). These weapons could even be worn on a watch chain, and sometimes ladies from the upper classes would wear them as earrings. The more exclusive firearms were mostly made as complete sets, in a beautiful wooden case, with a powder flask and even little tools to make bullets, etc.
The most of these guns were made by apprentices to qualify for the big gunsmiths guilds. The most of these miniature replicas of firearms can be found in museums such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg or the Metropolitan in New York. Miniature firearms are still produced today, for example by the Canadian
The great English knife pistol from Yvon Vachon
Its most interesting feature are the hammer and the safety catch… wich are 10k gold. This beautiful weapon is a combination of a stiletto and a percussion pistol with a lenght of 1-3/8″(34.9mm). The larger blade is the stiletto, the smaller one is regular folding blade. Both have been made of ATS-34 steel.
Its handle has been made of African Blackwood. It has a compartment for storing the bullets. The case is ebony. It has a stainless lock with two 10 k gold keys.
Yvon Vachon reproduction of the Unwin and Rodgers percussion knife pistol of 1845
Ok, just look this beauty, is an amazing miniature of an original knife pistol produced by Unwin and Rodgers in 1845. The scale of the reproduction is 1:4, its length is 1.63″ (41.3mm).
The handle is buffalo horn and has a hidden compartment to store the bullets. The set is housed in a snake wood case.
The Colt 1848 Dragoon was produced betwen 1848 and 1863. This antique weapon came from the Colt 1846 Walker.
The Whitney Model 1858 Navy was produced from 1858 to 1862 in two models, in total were built 33.000 revolvers. The first model had 4 versions and the second was made in six. Almost 1200 revolvers of the second model, first version were made. This antique firearm has an iron grip.
Traditionally, the chair was a status symbol. The Greek and Roman chairs in form of Xs (see images), was folded and transported with facility and when opening itself, it was used by an authority person.
These first chairs were made by local wood. At the beginning of 17th century the back legs of the chair were extended to form the frame for an endorsement. With the Restoration (1660), the continental styles of the chair arrived at Great Britain, including lightest, with wicker endorsements and upholstered seats, and the chairs with upholstered seats and upholstered endorsements. These styles became popular in London after 1666, when was a huge demand of furniture to replace the lost ones in the Great fire of London (left image). A new demand of chairs took place thanks to the change in the habits to eat during 17th century, the big table was replaced by smaller tables, in informal groups.
At the end of 17th century the auxiliary chair acquired a greater importance when groups of chairs against the walls were placed to emphasize the stay architecture. The armchair or fauteuil (left image) took place in a variety of new forms adapted to the new time of privacy and conversation. The upholstery became more generous and the chairs more comfortable, with fluid lines and cabriole legs, with upholstered arms; which gave rise to the armchair known like bergère in France. At early years of 18th century there was a golden time of the English armchair, habitually made of walnut. In the decade of 1760, it was made feel in Great Britain and the American colonies the influence of 
Some of these revolvers were bought by General George Armstrong Custers 7th Cavalry Regiment. The frame is marked “U.S.” and the name of the 7th Cavalry regiment has been engraved into the back of the grip. The serial numbers reach to 25.000 approximately. In 1996 one of these revolvers (in a very good state) was sold in an auction for almost $21.000.
Around 7400 of these Colt Cloverleaf also called House Pistol were produced by Colt between 1871 and 1876. The 1.5″/38-mm barrel is quite rare. It was either octagonal or round. The 3″/ 76 mm revolver was only produced with a round barrel. Both types were available in various finishes: with a bronze frame and a blued barrel and cylinder, fully nickel-plated.
Morris Chair, Gustav Stickley, produced in 1902. This chair demonstrates the Stickley philosophy, insisting permanently on “returning to the simple principles of the construction and on making comfortable, strong and simple furnitureâ€. The squares tapered under the arms are a particular detail by Stickley; unlike most of the craftsmen, he interlocked the arms to the leg. Price: within $8.000 and 14.000 .
This revolver was designed by H. Elliot of Remington Arms Co.. Remington produced more than 140.000 Derringer revolvers between 1866 and 1835, in .41 rimfire.