Howdah pistols any of you have one? - Page 1

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Posted: 5/3/2013 8:43:10 PM EST

Im really eyeing the kits on dixie gunworks.. Any of you have one? can you get a drop leg holster for it for open carry?

Posted: 5/3/2013 8:50:23 PM EST

[#1]

I thought I wanted one... till I checked the price... little to much for my cheap ass...

Posted: 5/4/2013 7:31:24 AM EST

[#2]

I would like to eventually get one. I have seen some other members here post pictures of them, so bump.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:28:09 AM EST

[#3]

Quoted:
I would like to eventually get one. I have seen some other members here post pictures of them, so bump.

Im thinking they would be a riot to shoot..

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:29:41 AM EST

[#4]

Smashy owns 3, I believe.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:31:18 AM EST

[#5]

That would be neat!

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:31:57 AM EST

[#6]

Quoted:
Smashy owns 3, I believe.

really? shit i guess im going north for a visit!

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:34:09 AM EST

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Smashy owns 3, I believe.

really? shit i guess im going north for a visit!

Gotta have at least 2 of the things in frop leg holsters for ultimate badness.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:36:26 AM EST

[#8]

I want to see the smoke cloud from a duel wield 4 barrel touch off.

Am I alone in that desire?

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:37:14 AM EST

[#9]

Quoted:
I want to see the smoke cloud from a duel wield 4 barrel touch off.

Am I alone in that desire?

nope its would be EPIC!

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:39:13 AM EST

[#10]

Look like tons of short barreled fun without the tax stamp since they are muzzle loading bp guns. For myself I can't justify the cost for what is a range toy and not a practical modern weapon.

$800 for the 20 ga. x 20 ga. Complete pistol, $650 for the kit version.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:41:22 AM EST

[#11]

I also kinda want the 12 ga. sized black powder rifle.
I forgot the caliber size but watched a video of a guy lighting one off and the slugs sounded like a freight train going down range.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:44:41 AM EST

[#12]

Old dude was just shooting a .50 cal single shot pistol at the range the other day.. had a nice thump to it and a lot of smoke as well..a real howdah would be impressive to see!

Not a howdah but I have a tc/contender in 45/70..close as I can get! Would love a real black powder double barreled one!
Cabelas has these..in 20 gauge

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:47:16 AM EST

[#13]

Quoted:

I thought I wanted one... till I checked the price... little to much for my cheap ass...

Same here. I was going to buy the kit until I saw the price. I will just wait until a used BP shotgun come into the shop, and then chop it down.

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:54:37 AM EST

[#14]

I like the concept. But how do you carry that safely?
I have owned my fair share of coach guns and some of their faults are present.
Large eared hammer resting on firing pins resting on primers...Drop that and what could go wrong.

This is my personal opinion.
A modern Howdah would be a Internal hammer with safety. A Stevens shotgun and you could drop it and not have it blow your head off. ..Just buy it some presentation wood and you are done. SBS for the win.

What I want to do is create a over under Howdah using a imported shotgun.....I just need to find a gunsmith that might find that fun.
A little case hardening and nice wood and it would look just as classy. Recoil would be in line and not right and left.
Hmmm

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:57:06 AM EST

[#15]

I've played with a real one in .577 and it was a load of fun.

I think a Dixie 20 gauge would be a hoot........

Posted: 5/4/2013 10:57:59 AM EST

[#16]

Quoted:

I've played with a real one in .577 and it was a load of fun.

I think a Dixie 20 gauge would be a hoot........

How bad was the recoil on the .577?

Posted: 5/4/2013 11:07:36 AM EST

[#17]

I was surprised, but the .577 Snider rifle loads were very mild from it.
It was a fun gun to shoot.

Posted: 5/4/2013 11:45:03 AM EST

[#18]

Quoted:
Smashy owns 3, I believe.

I bought them when they were first introduced in early 2008. The price was $600 then. The price has gone up a bit since. One is mine, the other two I bought as future Christmas presents for my boys when they get big enough to handle them (that will probably be this year). All three are .62 (20 gauge) smoothbores. They're also available in .50 x .50 (both rifled), .58 x.58 (both rifled), and .50 rifled x 20 gauge smooth. I chose the 20 x 20 because I like shooting big guns, the smooth bore is easier to clean, easier to load when dirty, and since it's for close range, the good accuracy of the smoothbore version turned out to make the rifled bores of the smaller ones a wash (since they only have a front bead and no rear sight anyway). Plus it gives you the option of using shot if you need a close-range snake gun.

I've done a little shooting with shot, but not much. I really prefer shooting big honkin' roundballs and that's what I bought them for. I found the accuracy was much better with 3F than 2F. The groups tightened up a lot when I switched to 3F. The most I've tried is one-handed shots with 60 grains of 3F under a patched .615" ball, just to see what it could do. The gun handled it just fine, but it was a handful. The boom and the smoke is somewhat... addictive.

.600" balls are better, the .615" balls are a little too tight even with thin patches.

Dixie has the kits for around $625, and they also have a holster and a shoulder stock.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=b9d18f656dr9s7o2t79jt9uht1&keywords=howdah&x=0&y=0

I got mine from Cherry's. Their prices were better than Dixie's at the time, although they've gone up the last few years. They only have the factory finished versions, not the kits.

http://cherrys.com/ped_pist.htm

I did my accuracy testing over a bag rest, and I was happy with the results once I found a load it liked. Should slow a zombie down.

The tacticool version, only for Tier 1 operators.

Posted: 5/4/2013 12:59:06 PM EST

[#19]

Quoted:

What I want to do is create a over under Howdah using a imported shotgun.....I just need to find a gunsmith that might find that fun.
A little case hardening and nice wood and it would look just as classy. Recoil would be in line and not right and left.
Hmmm

I know you're referring to a centerfire, but with the muzzleloader Howdah there is no feel of left/right recoil. It just feels like shooting a bigger version of my .54 flintlock pistol, as far as recoil goes. Can't feel any difference between the barrels.

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:11:36 PM EST

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:

What I want to do is create a over under Howdah using a imported shotgun.....I just need to find a gunsmith that might find that fun.
A little case hardening and nice wood and it would look just as classy. Recoil would be in line and not right and left.
Hmmm

I know you're referring to a centerfire, but with the muzzleloader Howdah there is no feel of left/right recoil. It just feels like shooting a bigger version of my .54 flintlock pistol, as far as recoil goes. Can't feel any difference between the barrels.

That is good to know. I have been playing with owning one in my mind for a while.
But any first hand feed back with anyone who has actually shot one is great.

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:34:03 PM EST

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Smashy owns 3, I believe.

I bought them when they were first introduced in early 2008. The price was $600 then. The price has gone up a bit since. One is mine, the other two I bought as future Christmas presents for my boys when they get big enough to handle them (that will probably be this year). All three are .62 (20 gauge) smoothbores. They're also available in .50 x .50 (both rifled), .58 x.58 (both rifled), and .50 rifled x 20 gauge smooth. I chose the 20 x 20 because I like shooting big guns, the smooth bore is easier to clean, easier to load when dirty, and since it's for close range, the good accuracy of the smoothbore version turned out to make the rifled bores of the smaller ones a wash (since they only have a front bead and no rear sight anyway). Plus it gives you the option of using shot if you need a close-range snake gun.

I've done a little shooting with shot, but not much. I really prefer shooting big honkin' roundballs and that's what I bought them for. I found the accuracy was much better with 3F than 2F. The groups tightened up a lot when I switched to 3F. The most I've tried is one-handed shots with 60 grains of 3F under a patched .615" ball, just to see what it could do. The gun handled it just fine, but it was a handful. The boom and the smoke is somewhat... addictive.

.600" balls are better, the .615" balls are a little too tight even with thin patches.

Dixie has the kits for around $625, and they also have a holster and a shoulder stock.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=b9d18f656dr9s7o2t79jt9uht1&keywords=howdah&x=0&y=0

I got mine from Cherry's. Their prices were better than Dixie's at the time, although they've gone up the last few years. They only have the factory finished versions, not the kits.

http://cherrys.com/ped_pist.htm

I did my accuracy testing over a bag rest, and I was happy with the results once I found a load it liked. Should slow a zombie down.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x188/JJack521/006-3.jpg

awesome, you just need to get a road warrior style holster for it

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:39:30 PM EST

[#22]

Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:42:17 PM EST

[#23]

Quoted:
Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

is there anything, ever positive in your lemon flavored world? I don't think I have ever see a positive post from you..

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:44:55 PM EST

[#24]

I just put mine on a custom stand. Pics tonight

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:50:31 PM EST

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

is there anything, ever positive in your lemon flavored world? I don't think I have ever see a positive post from you..

I like limes..

ETA I did not know I was here to be a ray of sunshine for you.

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:52:37 PM EST

[#26]

thats a pirate gun

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:55:32 PM EST

[#27]

I has a french/belgian one from the 1850's with gold inlaid lettering and rifled barrels..... the right barrel is still loaded.... other than that it has a crack to the wood in the pistol grip area that would preclude further shooting. so I havent unloaded or shot it since getting it from my father over 20 years ago.....btw its georgeous

Posted: 5/4/2013 2:59:33 PM EST

[#28]

Quoted:
I has a french/belgian one from the 1850's with gold inlaid lettering and rifled barrels..... the right barrel is still loaded.... other than that it has a crack to the wood in the pistol grip area that would preclude further shooting. so I havent unloaded or shot it since getting it from my father over 20 years ago.....btw its georgeous

Photos please... What does the barrel have in it Ball or Shot? I am always fascinated by this sort of thing. An uncle of mine who has been dead for many years now had a three band Enfield that was loaded that hung over the fireplace. He purchased it at an estate auction.

Posted: 5/4/2013 3:16:08 PM EST

[#29]

Quoted:
I like the concept. But how do you carry that safely?
I have owned my fair share of coach guns and some of their faults are present.
Large eared hammer resting on firing pins resting on primers...Drop that and what could go wrong.

This is my personal opinion.
A modern Howdah would be a Internal hammer with safety. A Stevens shotgun and you could drop it and not have it blow your head off. ..Just buy it some presentation wood and you are done. SBS for the win.

What I want to do is create a over under Howdah using a imported shotgun.....I just need to find a gunsmith that might find that fun.
A little case hardening and nice wood and it would look just as classy. Recoil would be in line and not right and left.
Hmmm

They weren't originally intended to be carried like a sidearm, they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

I've heard of, but never seen, four-barreled howday pistols.

Posted: 5/4/2013 3:26:00 PM EST

[#30]

Quoted:

Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

Posted: 5/4/2013 3:27:01 PM EST

[#31]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j377/victor751/rant2_zps18923265.gif

Posted: 5/4/2013 3:31:24 PM EST

[#32]

Quoted:

they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

This is what they were used for.

Posted: 5/4/2013 4:08:04 PM EST

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:

they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

This is what they were used for.

http://youtu.be/6mXeuJOfUNM

That Tiger is just friggin' MAD. See the way it came out of nowhere, and JUMPED!!

Posted: 5/4/2013 4:18:51 PM EST

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:

they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

This is what they were used for.

http://youtu.be/6mXeuJOfUNM

Holy shit!

Yeah, that exactly. That video is proof positive that the stories of big cats charging the caravan and jumping into the howdas is true!.

That happened so fast even if he'd had a pistol he may not have scored a hit on the tiger.

Posted: 5/4/2013 4:24:44 PM EST

[#35]

Quoted:

Quoted:

they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

This is what they were used for.

http://youtu.be/6mXeuJOfUNM

Holy shit!

Yeah, that exactly. That video is proof positive that the stories of big cats charging the caravan and jumping into the howdas is true!.

That happened so fast even if he'd had a pistol he may not have scored a hit on the tiger.

His hand got torn up. This is the story behind it:

Posted: 5/4/2013 4:34:12 PM EST

[#36]

Quoted:
Old dude was just shooting a .50 cal single shot pistol at the range the other day.. had a nice thump to it and a lot of smoke as well..a real howdah would be impressive to see!

Not a howdah but I have a tc/contender in 45/70..close as I can get! Would love a real black powder double barreled one!
Cabelas has these..in 20 gauge
http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_216598_999_01?hei=220&wid=380

I have a .50/70 Encore pistol.
525 grain bullets kick a bit.

Posted: 5/4/2013 4:59:49 PM EST

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

is there anything, ever positive in your lemon flavored world? I don't think I have ever see a positive post from you..

I like limes..

ETA I did not know I was here to be a ray of sunshine for you.

Just worries about ya bro.. You are showing signs of depression, might want to get it looked at..

Posted: 5/4/2013 5:10:18 PM EST

[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:

they were backup guns for hunters riding on elephants. Carried with the rest of the gear in the howdah. Size and weight was secondary to firepower.

This is what they were used for.

http://youtu.be/6mXeuJOfUNM

That dude git hammered.

Posted: 5/4/2013 5:17:00 PM EST

[#39]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cherry's and Dixie can kiss my ass they want way to much for black powder replicas.

is there anything, ever positive in your lemon flavored world? I don't think I have ever see a positive post from you..

I like limes..

ETA I did not know I was here to be a ray of sunshine for you.

Just worries about ya bro.. You are showing signs of depression, might want to get it looked at..

its just an accumulation of grey hair ... that I did not previously have.

Posted: 5/4/2013 5:24:53 PM EST

[#40]

Quoted:
Old dude was just shooting a .50 cal single shot pistol at the range the other day.. had a nice thump to it and a lot of smoke as well..a real howdah would be impressive to see!

Not a howdah but I have a tc/contender in 45/70..close as I can get! Would love a real black powder double barreled one!
Cabelas has these..in 20 gauge
http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_216598_999_01?hei=220&wid=380

I can't decide if I want a Contender in .45-70 or not. Let's just say I'm intimidated. I've one handed 12 gauge shotguns(being stupid with a pistol grip only, 18" barrel) and it was tolerable but not fun. I hear the .45-70 pistols are worse.

Posted: 5/4/2013 5:53:02 PM EST

[#41]

Lyman sells a .50 single shot pistol that has a belt hook attached to it. It's called the Plains pistol. You can get it in kit ($249) or finished for about $100.00 more.

I had one in my younger (and more foolish) days and would load barely snug patched round ball over over a Wonder Wad and drop two unpatched round balls with a WW on top to secure them. I forget the powder charge but it was right stout without any unburnt powder to speak of left behind. At 15 yards the 3 balls would only spread about 2-3" and just plain devastate a 2X10. The chips would really fly.

Bad medicine when you touched it off but lots of fun and the pistol did not seem to mind.

Posted: 5/4/2013 6:57:35 PM EST

[#42]

Here we go.
Was out on the run and couldn't post pictures from my phone.
This is an 1840s .54 cal., Belgian box lock pinfire, possibly used in the Congo. I have found one other exact example in a museum in Ohio which was used to identify this one.
Custom stand done within the last 24 hours. I think it's hot.

Sorry about the clutter of art messing up the shot. I moved in last week and furniture isn't here yet, so I have no surfaces to put shit on.
I would love to clean this up and make her pretty again, but don't know if that's appropriate from a collecting standpoint.
EDIT: Found an older pic with the action open.

Posted: 5/4/2013 8:02:36 PM EST

[#43]

Quoted:
Here we go.

Was out on the run and couldn't post pictures from my phone.

This is an 1840s .54 cal., Belgian box lock pinfire, possibly used in the Congo. I have found one other exact example in a museum in Ohio which was used to identify this one.

Custom stand done within the last 24 hours. I think it's hot.

http://imageshack.us/a/img21/4706/photomay03183323.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img62/1926/photomay04224012.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img521/5383/photomay04224022.jpg

Sorry about the clutter of art messing up the shot. I moved in last week and furniture isn't here yet, so I have no surfaces to put shit on.

I would love to clean this up and make her pretty again, but don't know if that's appropriate from a collecting standpoint.

EDIT: Found an older pic with the action open.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2773/img4274iu.jpg

No ornate engraving. A blade over the barrels.
A real working piece. So you stab it in and yell! ...Damn I left my triggers at home?

Really how do you fire that thing.

Nice looking firearm.

Posted: 5/4/2013 8:06:04 PM EST

[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Here we go.

Was out on the run and couldn't post pictures from my phone.
This is an 1840s .54 cal., Belgian box lock pinfire, possibly used in the Congo. I have found one other exact example in a museum in Ohio which was used to identify this one.

Custom stand done within the last 24 hours. I think it's hot.
http://imageshack.us/a/img21/4706/photomay03183323.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/1926/photomay04224012.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img521/5383/photomay04224022.jpg
Sorry about the clutter of art messing up the shot. I moved in last week and furniture isn't here yet, so I have no surfaces to put shit on.
I would love to clean this up and make her pretty again, but don't know if that's appropriate from a collecting standpoint.
EDIT: Found an older pic with the action open.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2773/img4274iu.jpg

No ornate engraving. A blade over the barrels.

A real working piece. So you stab it in and yell! ...Damn I left my triggers at home?

Really how do you fire that thing.

Triggers swing down when you cock the hammer back. (And you can see how badly I buggered up that stand when I was bending it!)

Posted: 5/4/2013 8:07:34 PM EST

[#45]

Quoted:

Really how do you fire that thing.

It's possible that the triggers fold down when the hammers are cocked.

A friend's father had an old pepperbox pistol that did just that. When you pulled back the hammer, the trigger lowered from the frame. When you pulled the trigger it folded back flush with the bottom of the frame. It would have made it very convenient as a pocket gun. Nothing to snag.

ETA: Woo hoo. I guessed correctly.

Posted: 5/4/2013 8:21:08 PM EST

[#46]

OK. I never knew folding triggers came on anything other than pocket guns.

Thank you for posting that.

Posted: 5/4/2013 8:23:50 PM EST

[#47]

I read somewhere that the recoil of firing a howdah chambered for something serious were far less damaging the consequences of not firing it when needed.