TIN FINISH SIMEON NORTH U.S. Model 1816 .54 MILITARY Pistol Antique Early American Army & Navy Sidearm!

Product Description

TIN FINISH SIMEON NORTH U.S. Model 1816 .54 MILITARY Pistol Antique

Early American Army & Navy Sidearm!

Here we present an antique U.S. 1816 Simeon North Pistol, made 1817-20 in Middletown, Connecticut. This example would have started out originally as a flintlock and converted to percussion shortly after the more reliable percussion system came about, likely in the 1830s. The Simeon North U.S. Model 1816 Army Contract Flintlock Pistol was the first U.S. martial pistol to be delivered on a truly large scale. Previous U.S. military pistol contracts were typically for fairly small runs with 2,000 to 3,000 being the typical example of a “large” contract (often expressed as 1,000 pairs or 1,500 pairs), with quantities under 500 being typical of most of the contracts let to gun makers from the late 1790s through post-War of 1812 era.

The Model 1816 had its beginning in the Simeon North Army Contract Pistol of 1811, more commonly referred to as the Model 1811. This pistol was contracted for on November 18, 1811, and the contract was for 1,000 pairs of .69 caliber single shot flintlock pistols with pinned barrels and brass furniture. During the production run, it was decided that the pistol should be modified and instead of relying upon pins to secure the barrel to the stock, it had a double strapped barrel band. After the success of the Model 1811 and as a direct result of the United States involvement in the War of 1812, the U.S. Army contracted North to produce 20,000 Model 1813 pistols. The pistol was an improved version of the previous Model 1811 with iron furniture and retained the massive .69 caliber bore of its predecessor. This excessively large caliber became a problem almost immediately, and production was temporarily halted in June of 1815 to allow the pistol to be re-designed in .54 caliber. Only 626 of the Model 1813 pistols were delivered up to this point, and the remaining parts on hand were used to complete a contract of 1,000 .69 pistols for the U.S. Navy, being called the Model 1816 Flintlock Naval Pistol. On January 8, 1816 the original contract for 20,000 pistols was officially renegotiated, and the remaining 19,374 .69 caliber pistols that were due under the 1813 contract were to be delivered as the .54 caliber U.S. Model 1816 Flintlock Army Pistol.

The service life was quite long for this pistol. The famous scout and Indian fighter Kit Carson fought with one of these, still in its original flintlock form, during the Mexican-American War from 1846-48. Even though percussion arms, including pistols, had been adopted by the U.S. in the 30s, it was not unusual for flintlocks to still be in use. Primary conflicts that would have involved this piece during its service life were the Seminole Wars, the Pawnee Expedition, the Mexican-American War and even the American Civil War.

The overall condition is good. Excellent action. Smooth bore in good shape; patinated. The ramrod tip is a bit loose and can be pulled off. Solid and smooth stock with a cartouche on the left butt stock: “LS” for Luther Sage. The side plate is marked “Q”. The nipple bolster is marked “M.V”. This is a big pistol and it features an interesting conversion with a commercial style hammer and large bolster along with a tin finish many times used on naval guns as an alternative to nickel.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 9-1/8 inches.

Caliber: .54 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2100
#230309