Antique pistol

[icedgold10]

I picked this up at an estate sale. The previous owner found it in a school desk drawer in 1969. I think it is civil war. Can anyone give me information on it?

 

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[Citiboy289]

The piece is not Civil War ---- Civil War pistols were Black Powder and would require a LOADING LEVEL , which yours lacks
What you have there is some sort of TOP BREAK pistol 1880's - mid 1920"S
There is a latch on top just above where the HAMMER would be on a regular pistol , If you lifted the latch the barrel assembly would pivot on a pin ( directly infront of the trigger guard causing the weapon to break in half
S&W were the primary manufactures ( but other companies also made similar models The S&W were nicknamed The Lemon Squeeze

 

[icedgold10]

Thank you for the information.

 

[dave sharky]

If it hods a bullet and not black powder make sure you don,t need a permit you don,t need that.

 

[nsdq]

looks like a S&W Top break model 3, circa 1870's