Old pocket pistol and Chinese opium/ medicine bottle

D

dagaro17

Jr. Member
Oct 12, 2018
49
231
N. California
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hi everyone,

I found a pistol and bottle at what I believe was a small camp near a hydraulic pit in the Northern California. I was digging lots of square nails and out popped the bottle. The pistol was found about 10 feet away. Couldn't believe it. I'm new to detecting and it is very addictive! If anyone knows any info on the gun it would be much appreciated. It's a five shot, .30 or .32 caliber. Thanks.
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You're in Nor Cal. How far north? I'm closer to Oregon than Sacramento.
 

The pistol's in pretty good shape for being in the weather for probably 75 years or so. Good project to clean it and get it working again. Envious.
 

Too cool...nice pistol and a very cool bottle. Congrats !!
 

Really nice finds! The pistol could have been made by a number of firms; they proliferated in the last quarter of the 19th century when this pistol was made. Perhaps a .32 rimfire. Google 'spur trigger pocket revolvers' and you will see many similar to yours. Good luck in the future!
 

Thanks everyone. Can't wait to get back and search the area some more.

dieselfool: I think you may be right. I found a .32 Rimfire casing in the same area.

Greastart: I'm in the Redding area. So many places to explore out there.
 

I've got an opium bottle just like that .. my brother dug it out of an old bottle dump in Helena
Montana ..I think it may be circa 1880's .
 

Neato! Sounds like a fun site to hunt and learn at. Fingers crossed there are a few old coins there!
 

dave wiseman said:
It's not an opium bottle.Opium came in colorful flat metal tins.
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Dave what came in that type of bottle? Since your seem to be certain, I’m hoping to learn something new here.

All the bottle books I’ve ever read call that an opium bottle.

I’m familiar with tin opium cans. Perhaps this was just a different form of opium? I’ve seen them with a dark brown residue in the bottom.
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The revolver is much older than 75 years old! Luckily we were not shooting those types of firearms during WW2, or we would not be speaking English!
 

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IMAUDIGGER said:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/bottles-glass/137346-old-chinese-medicine-bottles.html

Anybody read Chinese? What ever came in them was popular and because of the small size..apparently powerful. I suspect is was a pain killer oil, probably based on opium.
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Ive heard them called opium bottles as well but I don’t believe it to be true. Maybe something more powerful but enough opium just wouldn’t fit in that small of a bottle and forget about trying to get it out. I have a couple myself so I would love to know what actually was stored in them. Nice finds my friend and happy hunting
 

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I agree with IMAUDIGGER, whatever was in those bottles it must have been pretty potent as they could only hold a fraction of an ounce.
 

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