Jan. 20, 1900.11 
FOREST AND STREAM^ 
49 
Some Curious Pistols. 
In this age of advancement in the art of gun and re- 
yolver manufacture I think that we are wont to deceive 
ourselves by imagining that wc far excel past genera- 
tions. 
Of course, so far as the use of modem high explosvies 
and repeating rifles are concerned' we have undoubtedly 
made wonderful progress when compared to the old-time 
clumsy flint lock and cap and ball muskets and pistols, 
but when it comes to the real cunning and perfection 
of the gunsmith's art we have usually to look for it in 
times passed. Then everything was slowly and labori- 
ously worked out by hand; now we turn everything out 
by machinery. 
The above illustration shows two diminutive ex- 
amples of the art of gun making, past and present. The 
smaller of the two pistols is a modern machine-made 
cartridge revolver; the other is a hand-made model of 
the old cap and ball Colts. 
They have been photographed with a pair of dueling 
pistols about the size of a regulation army revolver, in 
order to show how minute they arc. 
The smaller of the two is French made, and measures 
154 inches from the point of the barrel to the end of the 
butt. The barrel itself is M of an inch long. The cham- 
ber cylinder is }i of an inch long and will carry six car- 
tridges. It is a self-cocker, but not hammerless. 
In every respect it is absolutely perfect, and can be 
broken or taken apart just as easily as any ordinary 
revolver. The cartridges are % of an inch in length and 
are loaded with No. 11 shot. When fired the sound is 
I am of the opinion that these two revolvers are tvro of 
the smallest if not the smallest in existence. 
For the past ten years I have been making a collec- 
tion of fire arms, and in that time I have not seen any 
as small, except one that came into my possession at 
the same time as the cap and ball Colts model. It 
measured one inch from tip of the barrel to end of the 
butt. The barrel itself was K^-inch long. It was 
modeled after a single-shot cap and ball dueling pistol. 
In workmanship and practicability it was the equal of 
either of the other two. It required a No. 12 shot. and 
one grain of powder to load it. 
Unfortunately it was misplaced about two years ago 
and I have never since been able to find it, and so cannot 
give a photograph of it. 
The two dueling pistols in the illustration deserve a 
word, as they have figured in numerous affairs of honor 
and are closely connected with the history of Louisiana. 
They were made in France about 130 years ago for a Count 
De Blanc, who took them with him when he went to 
Louisiana in 1798. Originally, of course, they were flint 
locks, but as the cap and ball came into general use and 
popular favor their owner had them changed to this 
latter model to suit the exigencies of the times. They 
are silver-mounted and are fitted with gold sights. At 
one time the end of the butts contained a jewel, but these 
have long since been removed, and silver-headed screws 
now replace them. 
The ramrods are of ebony, the butts of mahogany, al- 
most black with age and so soft that an impression can 
easily be made on them with the finger nail. It is here 
in the butts that they show their age, as the other parts 
of them are wonderfully well preserved, always having 
MR. WAtMSLEr's PISTOLS AND MINIATURE REVOLVERS. 
Tlie tiny cattridge shows between the second revolver and the bullet mold. 
about half as loud as a boy's cap pistol. At a distance 
of 3 feet it has a penetration of ten pages of Forest and 
Stream. 
Just about the center of the illustration, and below the 
bullet mould, can be seen one of the tiny cartridges used. 
It is fine sport to go out fly hunting with this pigmy- 
like weapon, and as it shoots with a fair degree of ac- 
curacy quite a bag of game may be taken in a morning's 
hunt, if one is fortunate enough to find numerous "herds" 
of this "animal." 
The other of the small revolvers measures 2^2 inches 
from the point of the barrel to the end of the butt. The 
barrel measures I inch and the chambers are 5^ of an inch 
in length. 
This one is also a six-shooter and is modeled minutely 
after the cap and ball Colts. It lacks nothing. Loading 
rod, sights, everything has been duplicated in miniature, 
and it is as perfect a revolver as was ever made. It is 
mainly of silver, hand-chased. 
I have thus far been unable to ascertain definitely who 
made it, but from all the information that I have been 
able to gather I think it was probably made by the Colts 
Company or one of their employes about the year 1850 
or 1855, either as a special order from some customer 
or else as a model or advertisement. 
The bullet used is about the size of a No. 7 shot, for 
the making of which a bullet mould has been provided 
containing a mould for a round and a conical bullet. The 
mould measures Ij^ inches in length and can be seen in 
the illustration just between the two small pistols. I 
attempted to photograph the percussion cap used for the 
latter revolver, but it is so very minute that it was a prac- 
tical impossibility. 
The second revolver has about four times the pene- 
tration of the first, and is more suitable for hunting such 
large and dangerous game as beetles and caterpillars, 
especially as it is considerably more accurate than tlie 
other, and one does not run so much risk of missing the 
mark and being carried oS and devoured by these 
ravenous animals. 
had the best of care, and when not in use having been 
kept in their mahogany case. 
I think it would be difficult to find a pistol as accurate 
as these. If one has a steady hand and a good eye he 
cannot fail to hit the mark; the sighting is absolutely 
perfect. They are also fitted with the hair trigger. 
Could these old pistols tell all the scenes, they have 
witnessed and been actors in it would indeed make an 
interesting narrative, for for over three-quarters of a cen- 
tury they figured in almost every notable "affair of 
honor" at New Orleans, and many a time has the early 
morning sun filtered through the branches of the famous 
Dueling Oaks of that city and glinted on the gold sights 
of the^ leveled pistols as the two "principals" of the 
"affair" faced each other, awaiting the word to fire. 
But all their pristine glory has departed in these 
prosaic days, and they disconsolately hang on the wall 
among numerous other weapons of a bygone time, and 
bemoan the advance of civilization and arbitration that 
has relegated them from a life of activity and excitement 
to a dull, dead, uninteresting existence of being stared at 
and commented on by members of a generation which 
they detest because of their lack of recourse to the "code." 
H. B. Walmsley. 
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
The address label on the wrapper shows the date of 
the close of the term for which the subscription is 
paid. The receipt of the paper with such dated ad- 
dress label constitutes the subscriber's receipt for 
money sent to us. 
Subscribers are asked to note on the wrapper the 
date of expiration of subscription ; and to remit 
promptly for renewal, that delays may be avoided. 
iJFoT prospectus and advertising rates see page ill. 
Massachusetts Game, 
From the report of the Inland Fisheries and Game Comtnission. 
Game, 
The alarming depletion of game all over the State led 
us to call a meeting of all fish and game clubs and 
sportsmen in the Commonwealth, to consider some plan of 
protection and possible increase. All clubs, so far as we 
know, were notified, and responded by delegates or 
letter; and the meeting, held at the State House, Nov. 23, 
was fairly well attended. This is the first convention of 
sportsmen held in this State, but we trust that it may be 
repeated annually. 
As might have been expected, the discussion was some- 
what diffuse; but the best of feeling prevailed, and the 
conclusions were very satisfactory to the Commission. 
It was the voice of the meeting (with one dissenting vote) 
that the sale of game be prohibited and the open season 
for all game should be from Oct. i to Dec. i. The Com- 
missioners heartily agree with this decision, and will do all 
they can to sustain it ; but the clubs and sportsmen should 
remember that the action of the Legislature is under- 
stood to be an expression of public sentiment, voicing 
the necessities of the people. It is not enough to favor 
better laws and larger appropriations; Senators and 
Representatives should know what is desired by their 
constituents. 
However mortifying it may be to know that Massachu- 
setts, the first State to take action for the protection aad 
propagation of fish and game, has fallen behind other 
States, we do not acknowledge the justice of the charge 
that this Commission is responsible for it. _ We have, as 
our reports will show, constantly urged the importance of 
better laws and adequate means to enforce them. We are 
powerless to do anything unless supported by public, 
opinion. While many of the ideas and inventions origi- 
nated and promulgated by this Board have been success- 
fully carried out in other States, they have sometimes, 
through no fault of the Board, failed to materialize here. 
We recognize the fact that Massachusetts is to a large 
extent a commercial and manufacturing State; still, she 
has within her borders ample grounds, with all necessary 
environments, for the maintenance of an abundance of 
game and fish; and it is a serious matter, and one indi- 
cating a lack of proper consideration of the needs of our 
citizens, that the people of this State'- annually spend 
many thousands of dollars for recreation felsewhere, which 
might be provided in this State by judicious legislation, 
with the result that a large revenue would, be retained 
within our own borders. ■ :, - 
The great and increasing demand made from all parts 
of the State for the better enforcement of the laws for the 
protection of fish and game renders it necessary, if the 
work is- to be carried on, that a larger appropriation 
should be made for that purpose. In addition to depu- 
ties who serve without pay, there should be a corps of 
paid deputies', - who can be sent to any part of the State 
when required. 
MoBgoIlaa Pfceasant. 
After the passage of the act of 1895, protecting 
pheasants, there was a considerable delay in obtaining a 
pure stock for breeding, and a still further delay in experi- 
menting with them, in order to acquire the necessary 
knowledge and experience to successfully rear the young 
birds. 
It was thought best to interest people throughout the 
State by sending pheasants to reliable parties to breed and 
distribute in their respective localities; but unfortunately 
this plan did not meet with success, as in a majority of 
cases they either lost their birds or failed to rear any. For 
this the Commissioners are in no way responsible, for 
they gave all the aid and information possible. Could the 
parties have given more care and attention to the work, 
the result might have been different. Mongolian 
pheasants are beautiful birds, and some who received 
them evidently considered their attractive appearance of 
more importance than their increase. 
For the past two years it has seemed to us, in view of 
past experience, better to ; send the. birds in the spring 
or early fall to be liberated at once, or in the fall to 
parties willing to keep them through the winter and 
set them free in the spring. We are sorry to say that this 
agreement has not always been kept. Probably a still 
better way would be for the Commission to personally 
inspect and select suitable localities, and put the birds out 
in colonies, from which the young birds would scatter 
and select desirable homes for themselves. In this way 
there would be no difificulty in stocking the State, provided 
they were not molested by lawless hunters. The State of 
Oregon was stocked from birds liberated on one estate. 
Pheasants, like the quail, inhabit the more open ground 
during spring, summer and fall, and seek shelter in the 
thick pine woods in winter.. Their native habitat is a 
country where the winters are more severe than in this 
State, and they will withstand the cold. 
Two important questions had to be considered in in- 
troducing pheasants.' First, would they find sufficient 
food to tide them through the winter. It was not known 
whether they would "bud," like the grouse. This ques- 
tion is now settled. Last winter was severe, as the 
snow came early and lasted long, but not a pheasant was 
known to have perished from cold or lack of food. Some 
of the liberated birds have been seen in hen yards, ap- 
parently seeking' food ; but this is due to the fact that 
they have been accustomed to be fed, and to their dis- 
position to flock together in winter. The second ques- 
tion was. Will hunters let them alone until the State is 
well stocked? The artificially reared bird is half tame, 
and would easily fall a prey to the unprincipled gunner; 
and we regret to say that many of them have already 
been killed, six or eight persons having been convicted 
and fined ; and we know that these cases represent only a 
small part of the number destroyed by lawless hunters, 
where sufficient evidence to convict could not be ob- 
tained. It is unnecessary to say that this wanton destruc- 
tion has materially affected the success of our work. 
Nevertheless, we are able to present very encouraging 
reports, such as has never been possible in the introduc- 
tion of any other game bird. There have been but few 
liberated in Winchester from' the State aviary, yet this and 
the surrounding towns are becoming fairly well stocked. 
