Frank Clarke Titan Mk1 Air Pistol.

[Abasmajor]

Noted this extremely rare Frank Clarke Titan Mk1 air pistol coming up at Holts September 2021 auction. Estimate looks on the conservative side for such a rarely seen item, although it won't win any beauty contests.

https://auctions.holtsauctioneers.co...7043&saletype=

Brian

[Jerry Cornelius]

Yes it was discussed on here the chap took it into a police station for destruction! I think we all feel it’s a bit of a bbs baby

No idea about the estimate, with premium the top end estimate is over £2000.

[Abasmajor]

Yes it was discussed on here the chap took it into a police station for destruction! I think we all feel it’s a bit of a bbs baby

No idea about the estimate, with premium the top end estimate is over £2000.

Hi Jerry,
I remember the discussion now that you mention it. Hard to estimate a realised price as there's nothing to directly compare it with.
As with all auctions, it would only take a couple of determined bidders to reach the current estimate.

Brian

[micky2]

Hi Jerry,
I remember the discussion now that you mention it. Hard to estimate a realised price as there's nothing to directly compare it with.
As with all auctions, it would only take a couple of determined bidders to reach the current estimate.

Brian

Hi Brian, yes l was one of our crowd who put what we thought it would make at auction. which were with in the Holt' estimates. even if l had that sort of money l wouldn't buy it. as l could buy a cased pair of flintlock or percussion pistols for that money, that have a lot more history to them. but what ever floats your boat as they say.

[Jerry Cornelius]

Hi Brian, yes l was one of our crowd who put what we thought it would make at auction. which were with in the Holt' estimates. even if l had that sort of money l wouldn't buy it. as l could buy a cased pair of flintlock or percussion pistols for that money, that have a lot more history to them. but what ever floats your boat as they say.

It’s a lot of cash for something that hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down, that’s for sure.

[Abasmajor]

It’s a lot of cash for something that hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down, that’s for sure.

Hard to see how it evolved into the compact and much better looking Titan models ending in the 7th series which contributed so much to the later Webley Mk1.

[Jerry Cornelius]

Hard to see how it evolved into the compact and much better looking Titan models ending in the 7th series which contributed so much to the later Webley Mk1.

Tbh I think they’ve all got looks only their mother could love. I’m not sure the later ones aren’t worse.

[Abasmajor]

Tbh I think they’ve all got looks only their mother could love. I’m not sure the later ones aren’t worse.

Hi Jerry,

Apart from the awkward cocking method, I think the 7th Series Titan is a nice looking pistol who's appearance was clearly reflected in the Webley Mk1.
Admittedly, the previous models in the Titan series of compact pistols weren't made to the same standard, but they were after all aimed at the cheaper end of the market.



Brian

[Garvin]

Tbh I think they’ve all got looks only their mother could love. I’m not sure the later ones aren’t worse.

All the Titans look beautiful to me, honestly.

[Jerry Cornelius]

Hi Jerry,

Apart from the awkward cocking method, I think the 7th Series Titan is a nice looking pistol who's appearance was clearly reflected in the Webley Mk1.
Admittedly, the previous models in the Titan series of compact pistols weren't made to the same standard, but they were after all aimed at the cheaper end of the market.



Brian

Helpful set of pictures. The mk1 has a sort of Flash Gordon thing going on 20 years before it’s time. That lever hanging out of the back of the mk7 is just yuk though.

All the Titans look beautiful to me, honestly.

As my gran would have said, it would be a dull world if we were all the same

That said, have you seen an optician recently?

[Garvin]

That said, have you seen an optician recently?

I was going to ask you the same thing.

[ccdjg]

It is interesting to look at the mind set of Frank Clarke and how he developed his Titans.




The very first pistol he sold was a tiny German air pistol which he branded as the Bulldog and which he sold from his shop in the Gothic Arcade, Snow Hill Birmingham pre 1910. This obviously influenced him to make his own pistol, the Titan Mark 1, and in this he adopted the main features of the Bulldog, such as a rear moving piston, placing the barrel over the cylinder, and using direct pull cocking from the front. The principal difference was the introduction of the bolt action sliding barrel, which got round the clumsy breech screw loading of the Bulldog.

He then decided that front-pull cocking had limitations and invented his rear cocking concept using a retractable rotating cocking rod. Keeping the bolt-action barrel, so leading to the Titan Mark 2.

Then he had a typical Clarke flash of inspiration and invented his rotating breech block. This one simple steel component provided the air transfer port, enabled a fixed barrel to be used in place of the complex rotating bolt-action barrel, and provided a means of rotating the cocking rod into the grip. So was born the Titan Marks 3-7.

As far as rarity goes, I know of only four Bulldog pistols, six Mark 1 Titans, and two Mark 2 Titans. The rarest of all, the Mark 3, with only one example known to date is obviously missing from my picture sequence. So if anybody has got one these rusting in his shed, please let me know.

[Garvin]

The rarest of all, the Mark 3, with only one example known to date is obviously missing from my picture sequence.

You can see the Mk3 here, thanks to John Atkins.

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....an-air-pistol/

[Abasmajor]

It is interesting to look at the mind set of Frank Clarke and how he developed his Titans.



Birmingham pre 1910. This obviously influenced him to make his own pistol, the Titan Mark 1, and in this he adopted the main features of the Bulldog, such as a
The very first pistol he sold was a tiny German air pistol which he branded as the Bulldog and which he sold from his shop in the Gothic Arcade, Snow Hill rear moving piston, placing the barrel over the cylinder, and using direct pull cocking from the front. The principal difference was the introduction of the bolt action sliding barrel, which got round the clumsy breech screw loading of the Bulldog.

He then decided that front-pull cocking had limitations and invented his rear cocking concept using a retractable rotating cocking rod. Keeping the bolt-action barrel, so leading to the Titan Mark 2.

Then he had a typical Clarke flash of inspiration and invented his rotating breech block. This one simple steel component provided the air transfer port, enabled a fixed barrel to be used in place of the complex rotating bolt-action barrel, and provided a means of rotating the cocking rod into the grip. So was born the Titan Marks 3-7.

As far as rarity goes, I know of only four Bulldog pistols, six Mark 1 Titans, and two Mark 2 Titans. The rarest of all, the Mark 3, with only one example known to date is obviously missing from my picture sequence. So if anybody has got one these rusting in his shed, please let me know.

Hello John,

The evolution of the Titan models is a little easier to see when they are pictured sequentially. Am I right in saying that the Bulldog was the smallest commercially produced, spring powered air pistol and not the Tell 2 as many believe?

Brian

[Abasmajor]

Helpful set of pictures. The mk1 has a sort of Flash Gordon thing going on 20 years before it’s time. That lever hanging out of the back of the mk7 is just yuk though.

As my gran would have said, it would be a dull world if we were all the same

That said, have you seen an optician recently?

Hi Jerry,

The cocking lever on the Series 7 Titan also activated a grip safety similar to that used on the Colt 1911 ACP service pistol which was really quite innovative on an air pistol.

Brian