Hello Gary,

I can't help you much on the maker but it appears that on the barrel in the bottom picture there are what seem to be 'Proof Marks'. Given that there were no Proof Houses in the USA it may be that the barrels were made abroad and imported. 

Can you remove the barrels and take pictures of these marks. There are often Proof Marks under the barrels which may be hidden, they may provide you with some info as to where the barrels came from.

Harry

Hello Gary,
Seeing the style of the gun they are probably English. Why one these guns was transferred to percussion is quessing. Maybe because of the faster way of shooting a percusion lock? I think they started as duelling pistols a long time ago, because of beeing smooth bore and large calibre. Seeing the proof marks on the barrel they are for sure english. I do have a percussion gun with also the "GP"proofmark under the crown. Could find out from witch proofhouse, maybe Birmingham (UK). Try to find out. Bema.

Hello Gary,

Thanks for the pictures, unfortunately they aren't a great deal of help. The three marks that appear to be Proof Marks I cannot find in any of my books or on the www.

These are a Crown over the letter V, a Crown over the letter P and a Crown over the No. 15, or letters IS. The first two being inside oval cartouches. 

Such oval cartouches were commonly used in France, Belgium and Spain.   

The Crown Stamp is also a problem, it is a Two Arch Crown and virtually all the Crown markings that appear on European Proof Marks have three, four, five or more arches to the Crowns.

I agree with David that these were holster pistols, the sights, however crude, are seldom found on quality duelling pistols. The trigger appears to have an adjusting screw which could indicate an early form of target pistol. The trigger guard spurs were seldom found on British made duelling pistols with the exception of saw grip duellers.

It is also feasible that the Proof Marks are indeed a total fake, applied by the gun maker to impress the customer that these weapons had in fact been 'Proofed'. 

There is a certain 'English style' to these pistols, but I think that's as far as it goes.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Harry

digitall423 wrote on Jan 15^th, 2010 at 8:02am:


Copied from the Treaty: Page 288 
"Cherokees to surrender lands in Arkansas within fourteen months. Articles of a Convention, concluded at the City of Washington this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, between James Barbour, Secretary of War, being especially authorized therefor by the President of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs and Head Men of the Cherokee Nation of Indians, West of the Mississippi , they being duly authorized and empowered by their Nation. 
WHEREAS, it being the anxious desire of the Government of the United States to secure to the Cherokee nation of Indians, as well those now living within the limits of the Territory of Arkansas, as those of their friends and brothers who reside in States East of the Mississippi, and who may wish to join their brothers of the West, a permanent home, and which shall, under the most solemn guarantee of the United States, be, and remain, theirs forever— a home that shall never, in all future time, be embarrassed by having extended around it the lines, or placed over it the jurisdiction of a Territory or State, nor be pressed upon by the extension, in any way, of any of the limits of any existing Territory or State; and, Whereas, the present location of the Cherokees in Arkansas being unfavorable to their (etc .....)"

waterman wrote on Jan 15^th, 2010 at 11:10am:

No reasonable offer refused  
Thank you all for helping me identify these pistols.
Finding out more about Maj. du Val will likely be more difficult.
Gary

OLReliable

I guess you learn something new every day. Living just across the Hiwassee River from what was the Indian Nation in Tennessee I have always been interested in the Cherokees. Never knew anything about The Arkansas bunch.

I have seen  quite a few Booth pistols. The proof marks on the barrel are English. the crowned IS on the bottom is probably a barrel maker's stamp.....John S....... I would assume they are both stamped the same if they are a pair.
Philadelphia makers certainly had what it takes to make these but they could have just as easily been made in England for export and made for Booth to sell.