Military - Overview
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
"Military - Overview" showing 331 items.
Page 1 of 34
Model 1826 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber U.S. Model 1826 smoothbore flintlock pistol was made by John Joseph Henry. It has a swivel type ramrod. The barrel is iron, and the blade front sight and flash pan are brass. The flash pan is tilted upward. The pistol also has an oval rear sight.
- “J.J. HENRY/BOULTON” is stamped on the lockplate below the flash pan. There are no inspector marks on the stock or barrel marks.
- History:
- John Joseph Henry learned his craft as an apprentice to his uncle John Henry. After studying in Boston, Henry opened his own factory in Boulton factory, Pennsylvania.
- This pistol was made for the Pennsylvania militia. Despite the Model 1826 designation, Henry produced this type of pistol in 1835-36. These pistols are readily identified by the unique downward curve to the grip which was a trademark of J.J. Henry.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 206
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1830
- maker
- Henry, John Joseph
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.04
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1813 Maryland Contract Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber smoothbore flintlock Pistol was made by Henry Deringer in 1813. It has a pin fastened barrel, brass mountings, and a wooden ramrod with two ramrod pipes.
- The batch number “3” is stamped inside the lockplate, in the inlet for the lock, bridle and frizzen. The barrel has “M” over a raised “P” in an oval and the stock is stamped “M” and “HM.”
- History:
- This type of pistol was manufactured by Henry Deringer. He opened his factory in Philadelphia in 1806 and would later become famous for his percussion pocket pistol. There is no federal contract information for Deringer pistols in 1813. It is reported however, to have been for a contract in 1807/1808 for the state of Maryland to make 510 pistols.
- Batch numbers for Deringer pistols range from the number 1 to the number 61. Two pistols have the batch number “3”. Deringer delivered batch numbers 1-90 in one shipment. At a later date he shipped pistols with batch numbers 1-120 which accounts for the duplicate batch numbers on this particular pistol in addition to 89 other pistols.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 51.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 286.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1813
- maker
- Deringer, Jr., Henry
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.06
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.06
- collector/donor number
- P42L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Pennsylvania/Kentucky Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .50 caliber smoothbore flintlock Kentucky style pistol is attributed to John Shuler of Liverpool, Pennsylvania. This pistol has an octagonal barrel with an iron front sight. It is pin fastened with a curly maple stock and a brass barrel band on the forend. It has brass furniture including a brass lockplate and flash pan. The wooden ramrod has a brass tip. The trigger guard has an arrowhead filial and the silver escutcheon plate is engraved “AST.”
- History:
- This particular pistol is a mystery. It is attributed to John Shuler of Liverpool, Pennsylvania. While it is similar to Shuler pistols in appearance, there are many differences that set it apart.
- First, it differs because it lacks the “SHULER” stamp on the barrel. This pistol also has a brass lockplate which is not common for a Shuler pistol. Finally, the engraving on the silver escutcheon plate is not found on Shuler pistols.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 176.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 236.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1800
- maker
- Shuler, John
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.09
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.09
- collector/donor number
- P69L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1826 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber U.S. Model 1826 smoothbore flintlock Navy pistol was made by W.L. Evans of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It has iron mountings including an iron backstrap from the tang to the buttcap with an iron belt hook. All the iron parts are browned. The barrel bands are secured by springs. It has a swivel type steel ramrod and a brass flash pan.
- The lockplate is stamped “US/WL/EVANS”. The top of the barrel is stamped “LS US P” and the left side of the stock is stamped “C/IP”. It is also stamped “1830” at the rear of the lockplate.
- History:
- In 1825, John Rogers – a gun manufacturer in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania – could not get enough money to fund his government contracts, so he went into business with W.L. Evans. They produced these Model 1826 pistols between the years 1830 and 1831. Less than 1,000 of these particular pistols were made; making it very rare.
- This pistol was part of a contract for the Navy and is nearly identical to the Model 1826 made by Simeon North. Rogers and Evan’s factory was largely successful until a flood of Valley Creek washed away the entire factory. A new one was never built.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p 61.
- Houting, Scott. The Evans Family of Valley Forge: The US Model 1816 Flintlock Musket.” Valley Forge Historical National Park
.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 319.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1830
- maker
- Evans, W. L.
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.18
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.18
- collector/donor number
- P112L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McCormick Horse Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .67 caliber unproofed, smoothbore flintlock horse pistol was made by Robert McCormick of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has a pin fastened, walnut stock with a narrow brass barrel band. It has brass mountings with an engraved brass trigger guard in a pineapple finial.
- This pistol does not have any proof marks but does have “UNITED/STATES” stamped at the rear of the lockplate and “Ketland/&Co.” stamped in script under the flash pan.
- History:
- Robert McCormick is an Irishman who came to America and leased the Globe Mills in 1798 to produce firearms. He was contracted by the U.S. government for Muskets that same year. In 1799, he had another contract, but did not finish it because he was thrown in debtor’s prison in 1801. That contract was finished by an employee named James Haslett – who would move on to run the Virginia Manufactory.
- This pistol is very rare. Because there are no proofmarks, two theories emerge for this pistol. The first is that it was sold for civilian use. The trigger guard’s engraving is not that of a military pistol and the side plate is not symmetrical. Also the grip has a sharper slope than a military horseman pistol. The second theory is that because of its martial size, this pistol could have been put together from parts in a military warehouse.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 122.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 92.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1799
- maker
- McCormick, Robert
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.04
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1808 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .58 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. Model 1808 pistol was made by John Guest of Lancaster, Pa. The locks were made by Drepert, a sub-contractor. It is full pin fastened with a walnut stock, brass mountings, a wooden ramrod, and a reinforced double neck hammer.
- The lockplate is stamped “DREPERT” under the flash pan and “US” by the rear. “J GUEST” is stamped in script on the top of the barrel by the breech.
- History:
- John Guest opened at factory at Lancaster Borough in Lancaster, Pa. He was in production from 1802-1809. He produced many rifles and Model 1807 pistols for contract. It is known that the lockmaker Drepert was his main contractor.
- Guest’s pistols were ordered under U.S. government contract from Tench Coxe. Coxe was a controversial character during this time period. President Thomas Jefferson named him Purveyor of Public Supplies from 1803-1812. Before that however he was a loyalist to the British government.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 80.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 214.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1808
- maker
- Guest, John
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.08
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.08
- collector/donor number
- P105L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Pennsylvania Militia Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .65 caliber smoothbore flintlock Pistol was made by John Miles Sr. under contract for the Pennsylvania Militia. It has brass furniture, double neck hammer a wooden ramrod and a pin fastened stock.
- The barrel proof is a raised Liberty Cap and “P”. The barrel is stamped “MILES PHILAD” and the lock stamped “MILES”.
- History:
- John Miles Sr. moved to Philadelphia from London, England in 1790. He opened a “Gun and Pistol Manufactory. An advertisement in the Philadelphia archives from 1798 reads, “Guns and Pistol Manufactory; No. 500 North Street; Where merchants, Captains of vessels and others may be supplied with all sorts of small arms, on the lowest terms and shortest notice.”
- Between the years 1797 and 1798, Miles made pistols for the Pennsylvania Militia. Under a 1798 contract, he made 2,000 muskets for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While the exact date on this pistol is unknown, it had to have been made before 1795 because the “P” on the breech was discontinued by Pennsylvania that year.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p 132.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 104.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1795
- associated date
- 1794
- maker
- Miles, John
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.10
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.10
- collector/donor number
- P108L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1826 Navy Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. Model 1826 Navy pistol was made by W.L. Evans. It has iron mountings including an iron backstrap from the tang to the buttcap with an iron belt hook. All the iron parts are browned. The barrel bands are secured by springs. It has a swivel type steel ramrod and a brass flash pan.
- This pistol has a very rare stamp on the lock plate. It is stamped “W.L. EVANS/E. BURG” under an eagle head. The military stamps “C /IUSN/P” are on the barrel and the inspector’s mark “CL” is stamped on stock and barrel.
- History:
- In 1825, John Rogers – a gun manufacturer in Valley Forge, Pa – could not get enough money to fund his government contracts, so he went into business with W.L. Evans. They produced these Model 1826 pistols between the years 1830 and 1831.
- This pistol was part of a Navy contract and is nearly identical to a Model 1826 pistol made by Simeon North. It is one of a pair of U.S. Model 1826 pistols made by Evans with an Evansburg, Pa stamp. It was separated from its mate in 1948. Francis Bannerman bought the pair in the 1930s and sold them to a dealer , W. Stokes Kirk. In 1940, Kirk sold them to Dr. S. Traner Buck. When Dr. Buck died, the collection was purchased by the Kimball Arms Company. They sold the pair in 1948 to Henry Stewart and William Locke. Stewart sold his to Dr. James Lucie who sold it to Johnnie Bassett. This pistol was purchased for the Bitter Collection from Locke in 1973.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p 61.
- Houting, Scott. The Evans Family of Valley Forge: The US Model 1816 Flintlock Musket.” Valley Forge Historical National Park
.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 318.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1830
- maker
- Evans, W. L.
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.12
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.12
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- collector/donor number
- P111
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McCormick Model 1797 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .64 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. Model 1797 Pistol was made by Robert McCormick. The lock was made by Ketland and Co. in Great Britain. It has a pin fastened walnut stock, brass furniture, and a wooden ramrod with a swelled tip.
- The lockplate is stamped “KETLAND & CO” is script and “UNITED/STATES”. It is also stamped “McCORMICK” on the stock.
- History:
- Because of the stamp on the barrel, this pistol is one of the few to have been made by McCormick himself. Information on these pistols originates from Harry C. Knode who wrote about Ship and Horseman pistols between 1797 and 1799.
- Robert McCormick was an Irishman who came to America and leased the Globe Mills in 1798 to produce firearms. He was contracted by the U.S. government for Muskets that same year. In 1799, he had another contract, but did not finish it because he was thrown in debtor’s prison in 1801. That contract was finished by an employee named James Haslett – who would move on to run the Virginia Manufactory.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 122.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 88
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1799
- maker
- McCormick, Robert
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.13
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.13
- collector/donor number
- P103L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1814 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .69 caliber U.S. smoothbore flintlock pistol was made by O & E. Evans of Evansburg under contract to Pennsylvania during the War of 1812. It has a walnut half stock with a wide brass barrel band and spring, brass mountings including a brass flashpan, a double necked reinforced hammer, and an iron ramrod with a button tip.
- The lockplate is stamped “EVANS. The barrel has a sunken “P” stamp and has “PM FS 1814” on the underside.
- History:
- Edward Evans worked with Owen Evans in 1798 to produce Charleville Muskets for Purveyor of Public Supplies, Tench Coxe. They continued to work together till Owen’s death in 1812. Edward carried on the business filling the contract on August 14, 1815. He produced this type of pistol for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for use during the War of 1812.
- The pattern for this pistol was the French Year XIII (1805) Cavalry Pistol. This particular pistol was purchased in 1933 from Joe Kindig and the Harmen Collection by Edwin Bitter.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 61.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 294.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1814
- maker
- O. & E. Evans
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.14
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.14
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center