November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
US M1836 single shot martial pistol manufactured by Waters and dated 1843. 8 - 1/2" barrel in .54 caliber smoothbore with brass blade front sight and integral backstrap notched rear sight near breech. Converted to percussion in a way identical to figure 15 of "A Pictorial History of U.S. Single Shot Martial Pistols" by James M. Kalman with text by C. Meade Patterson. This conversion was very common during the Civil War period, as a way to make older surplus arms like the 1836 usable again and were used by both sides. 1 piece walnut stock with iron mountings. Marked at left of barrel with "U.S. / NWP / P". Hand engraved on bottom flat of stock near trigger guard "Sth Mountain" (South Mountain) in a way consistent with hand engravings used to identify battlefield pickups. The Battle of South Mountain occurred September 14, 1862 and set the stage for the Battle of Antietam a few days later. CONDITION: Fair with wear consistent with long periods of exposure to the elements and potential heavy use with iron assemblies turned an even brown patina. Stock is in matching condition with 3 live cracks: one near rear of lock, one in middle of grip, and one near butt. Swivel ramrod is no longer present. Action functions correctly. Bore is dark with heavy abrasion. These US Martial pistols are fairly common, especially converted to percussion, but a M1836 likely picked up from an important US Civil War battle is a scarce and important find worthy of a museum or Civil War collection.
Caliber/Bore
.54 Smoothbore