119

Ball's Patent Anti-Garroting Belt Pistol 1849-1868

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Ball's Patent Anti-Garroting Belt Pistol 1849-1868
This an exceptionally rare percussion Ball’s Patent “Anti-Garroting” Belt Pistol Gun from the 19th Century. The rare oddity features a brown original patina and has an excellent mechanical function. This is one of the more bizarre and unusual self-defense firearms of a bygone era almost never encountered on the collector market today. The firearm features a rounded edge metal plate (measuring 2 7/8”x6 7/8”) that would attach to the user’s belt from the reverse and has a 1.25 inch long barrel that takes a .50 caliber bullet with a percussion serrated cap and ball hammer with curved trigger having a drilled area for the string. As described in the famous Flayderman & Co. catalog No. 117 (1994), “Considered to be among the rarest of firearms curiosa”, this very rare Ball’s Patent Anti-Garrotter Belt Pistol is a very unique offering. The above cited catalog listing was for an anti-garrotter pistol in the original case and was titled “ONLY KNOWN SPECIMEN CASED LABELED PERC BELT PISTOL”. The set offered by Flayderman & Co. was in the original lacquered iron case, with a printed maker’s label/instruction sheet mounted in the cover of the case which included an illustration of the belt and gun, and the title, “Henry Ball, Mfr of Improved Patent Single & D.A. Revolvers & Guns….Instructions for Loading Ball’s Patent Anti-Garrotter.”. It was complete with the full length leather belt and buckle which featured a lanyard and pull knob enclosed in a raised rib that ran the length of the belt, and sold for $5900. The pistol in this set featured a round 1 ½” barrel mounted in the center of the plate. Henry Ball is recorded in the history of British gun makers as being located at 23 Weaman Row, Birmingham, England, and employed as a gun and lock maker from 1849-1868. Ball’s invention was intended to be worn either at the front of the body, or at the small of the back pointed to the rear, where it could be used in defense against an attacker attempting to garrote - to use a cord or wire with handles attached with which to strangle – the victim. These are described in the book FIREARMS CURIOSA by Lewis Winant as, “How the percussion cap belt pistol, figures 170 and 171, operates may be seen at a glance. The oval iron plate is about 7” long, and the pistol barrel protrudes about 1 ½”. In this gun the cord runs from the lock through a channel in the belt for a foot or more, before being carried up to the shoulder and down through a coat sleeve. A man ordered to put up his hands can grasp the weight and tighten the string as he raises his arms. A belt pistol such as this had no appeal as a work or art and it was unlikely to be treasured because of its history or associations. Once obsolete it was neglected, then discarded, soon it was rotted leather and scrap metal. Now this belt pistol is a scarce collector item.” One of the more scarce and unique gamblers, cowboy, frontiersman firearms we have offered for sale. Comes with a print out of the pages referenced above by Lewis Winant. Antique Firearms, Blackpowder Firearm, requires NO FFL. Firearm does not come with any additional items except the copy of the Lewis Winant pages referenced above. Firearm does not appear to be marked, but is an original authentic piece.