Flintlock Pistol (Left-handed), India, 18th century, 1296 Non-functional replica

Reproduction of a flintlock pistol made of metal and wood with a simulated loading and firing mechanism.

Flintlock pistols had a flint stone, which when the hammer was pulled produced a spark that ignited the gunpowder. All these pistols required manual reloading of their ammunition after each shot. The ammunition, which was introduced through the muzzle, consisted of gunpowder, projectile and a paper wad, which served as a plug to keep the two previous ones compressed inside the barrel.

These pistols were used as self-defense weapons until the mid-19th century. Their effective range was short and they were often used as an adjunct to a sword or knife. Flintlock pistols were prone to many problems compared to modern weapons, due to moisture or accidental firing.

In combat, these weapons were generally used for a single shot, since the method of reloading was very slow and there was usually no time to reload it. Therefore, after firing, combatants were forced to draw their sabres or swords or use the pistol as a truncheon, since circumstances did not allow them to reload it in time.

Measurements: 35.5 cm
Weight: 610 g