Signed by contemporary builder RW Dietz, this well made Kentucky pistol is stocked in curly maple and trimmed in brass furniture. The brass furniture is polished bright and is neatly hand engraved on the triggerguard and buttcap. The well tuned L&R John Bailes flintlock is fire blued and the 11" octagon barrel is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. Used, the pistol has a bright well maintained bore. This pistol weighs 2.3 pounds and points naturally when aimed.

The pistol barrel measures 11" long and the .45 caliber bore is rifled with seven lands and grooves for shooting patched round balls. The bore is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. The barrel exterior is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. A nickel silver blade front sight set in an iron base is dovetailed directly behind the muzzle. A small flat top rear sight is dovetailed at the breech for maximum sight radius. The top flat of the barrel is signed RW Dietz. The breech end of the barrel is decorated with border engraving, and the flared thumbnail tang is engraved with a floral pattern. The single fire blued screw is engraved and passes through the stock to engage the trigger plate below. Two small keys retain the barrel to the forearm.

The maple stock is finished to an amber tone, which nicely contrasts the browned barrel and fire blued lock. The tang is surrounded by well executed raised carving that flows down into the raised lock panels. The brass buttcap extends up the rear of the grip. The buttcap is hand engraved with a flower around the fire blued mounting screw, which is also neatly engraved. The triggerguard bow is hand engraved with a floral design. Raised carving surrounds the ramrod entry pipe and transitions into a raised molding that runs along the edge of the ramrod channel. The well fitted ramrod has a black horn flared end, but does not have any provisions for accessories. We recommend our #PL-5-45 to service this pistol. The well shaped side panel gives this pistol a slender appearance through the lock panels. The brass sideplate is neatly hand engraved with a floral design. The two fire blued lock bolts are also neatly engraved.

The L&R John Bailes flintlock is fire blued and engraved with a floral pattern on the plate and cock. The lock has a crisp action and a well hardened frizzen. When using our best 5/8" knapped English gun flints, the lock will throw a shower of sparks into the pan. A stainless steel vent liner has been installed on this pistol. The vent liner is concave inside to bring the main powder charge very close to the incandescent heat of the priming flash. Well positioned on the center of the pan, slightly above the pan to frizzen joint, sometimes called the "sunset" position. The vent hole is centered on the heat of the priming flash, for instant ignition, without the whoosh-bang delay, seen in many flint guns. The trigger is pinned high to provide good leverage against the sear.

A very nicely fitted and finished flintlock pistol that will be a joy to both display and shoot. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.