The cap pistol

The Russian officer's pistol (cap pistol) was the regular side arms of higher-rank tsarist soldiers during the January Uprising. The pistol may have been made between about 1845 and 1849. It has a distinctive stamp under the barrel. These weapons were produced in small quantities in 19th century and they were often stocked by the regiment and given to officers going into service who were obliged to return them. These weapons were not private property of officers and are, therefore, rare even in Russian museums. The weapon, i.e. the material and manufacturing technique, was made from wood, steel and brass. It had a threaded barrel with 12 notches, with a backsight and elongated foresight. On the left side of the bottom section of this weapon, there is stamped no. 4. The loading lever is steel, movable and attached to a lever. A cap breech, light brown wooden holder. The weapon handle is oval, flared at the end, featuring a steel ferrule with a ring. The total length of the pistol is 340 mm, whereas the barrel length is 248 mm. The weapon calibre is 17 mm. It was acquired from the Potockis’ in 1944 under the Agricultural Reform Act.

Cyprian Biernat