November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
In 1861, in a collaboration with Henry J. Rogers and Benjamin Franklin Coston (inventor of the first signal pistol), the U.S. Model of 1861 was introduced. It was the first U.S. issue signal pistol. Although nearly identical, there is a U.S. Army as well as a U.S. Navy pistol. This is a U.S. Navy with serial no. 23. Unlike the Army Model that was made in two halves, the Navy Model was made with the entire barrel being cast integral with the right side and the left side attached with two screws. It uses the Coston light system. This particular example is dated 1864. Left side is stamped "U.S.O.Y.W W.N.J" (United States Ordnance Yard Washington). It is 9" in length and is in caliber 15mm. Single shot, percussion with exposed hammer. These were made for the U.S. Navy yard in Washington. It is in excellent, all original condition. Solid brass has never been cleaned. Original nipple. Extremely scarce Civil War signal pistol, the first model ever used by the United States.