GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
EXTREMELY FINE MODEL 1836 U.S. MARTIAL FLINTLOCK PISTOL. JOHNSON 1838/42 NSN 54 Cal. 54. This is as fine an "R. JOHNSON", Middleton, CT sgl-shot martial flint pistol you will find. This gun conforms to the usual configuration having 8-1/2″ rnd smooth bore bbl, brass blade front sight, oval shaped rear sight on the bbl tang with an overall length of about 14″. Gun is iron mounted with swivel-type steel ramrod. Lockplate is flat and beveled ahead of the hammer marked "US/R JOHNSON/MIDDn CONN/1842″. Proof stampings on the breech of the bbl are "US/JH/P" (James Harris). Small sub-inspector mark "B" is found on trigger guard, bbl and stock. This was the last US martial flint pistol manufactured. Norm Flayderman states in his Guide to American Antique Firearms "Many collectors regard this as the best made, most attractive and best performing of all U.S. military flint handguns. It was standard issue handgun during the Mexican War and continued to see extensive use, converted to percussion, in the Civil War." Even though 41,000 of these guns were made between 1836 and 1844, most were converted to percussion and few survive as orig flint in as fine condition as this gun. PROVENANCE: Collection of Robert Roughton. CONDITION: Bbl and iron mountings are overall bright/grey with scattered areas of staining. Case hardened lock and breech retain traces of their case colors in protected areas. Stock is fine and solid, hand worn patina, raised grain with two bright well-struck cartouches "JCB" (Lt. John C. Beaumont) and "WAT" (William A. Thornton). Bore is bright and shiny and mechanically crisp. 52328-34 JS (2,750-3,750)