Ferguson Rifle by David Crisalli

Photos supplied by David Crisalli.

Brace of Heavy British Dragoon Pistols by David Crisalli

In 1974, while I was a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, I had a chance to go to Williamsburg for a couple of days. The stands of arms in the governor's mansion so impressed me that I have had visions of owning a wall full of Brown Bess muskets and Dragoon pistols ever since. Never able to afford an original, I built a Dragoon for myself in 2007. Nothing fancy at all - just a huge but very graceful pistol with a .62 bore. I enjoyed shooting it so much that I recently built a second one. Both are assembled from available castings and scrap walnut left over from rifle stocks.

Copy and photos supplied by David Crisalli.

Silver Mounted Horn by David Crisalli

The raw horn had a thick tip allowing for a heavily carved throat.  The horn is mounted fore and aft with sterling silver bands and strap swivels.The stopper is turned from ebony and the horn tip has a brass liner that prevents splitting.  The base plug is turned walnut and is fitted with a threaded, wooden cascabel for easy filling.  The engraved nautical chart is of the Chesapeake Bay area around Annapolis and is taken (including the antiquated spelling) from a map made of the area in November of 1769. 

Copy and Photos supplied by David Crasalli.