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 8 items.
Springfield Armory Model 1817 Pistol
- Description
- History:
- Because of the “1818” stamps on the lockplate and barrel, this pistol has been inaccurately called the Model 1818 Springfield Pistol. It actually originated in 1807 at Secretary of War Henry Dearborn's request for the mass production of pistols at the Springfield Armory. Three months later, Springfield Armory produced 300 locks, 400 barrels and one sample pistol for Dearborn. While Dearborn thought “the pistol [was] a good piece of work, the [.69] caliber [was] too large” (Smith, 278) and production ceased on the project.
- The locks and barrels were primarily untouched until 1817 when the Superintendent of the Springfield Armory at the time, Lieutenant Colonel Roswell Lee, wrote to the Ordnance Office in Washington because he believed “it would be a saving to make [these locks and barrels] work into pistols” (Smith, 278). After receiving approval, Lee ordered the production for this particular pistol and many other U.S. Model 1807 pistols.
- References:
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760 – 1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 279.
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1818
- maker
- Springfield Armory
- ID Number
- 1982.0785.12
- accession number
- 1982.0785
- catalog number
- 1982.0785.12
- collector/donor number
- P39D
- 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
Model 1808 Boarding Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .64 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. reconverted boarding pistol was made by Thomas French of Canton, Massachusetts under Massachusetts state contract. It has a full walnut stock and a wooden ramrod with a flared brass tip. It is pin mounted with gooseneck hammer, brass mountings, iron flash pan, and an iron belt hook. It also has a distinct teat at rear of lockplate.
- It is stamped “T. FRENCH” under an eagle over “US” on the lockplate. The barrel is stamped “WNY” and the stock is stamped “MARSH/MA/V.”
- History:
- In 1808, Thomas French and two other men received a contract to produce 4,000 Model 1808 muskets. It is likely this pistol was most likely made for use during the War of 1812 during the fulfillment of this contract. Because of an inspector in Boston, French’s guns had to be “superior weapons” no matter the cost. The Committee of Claims ultimately issued a voucher to French for the additional cost in the production of these firearms.
- This particular pistol however is unique because of the “WNY” stamp. It stands for the Washington Navy Yard. The stamp “MARSH” is thought to be an abbreviation of an inspector’s name. This same stamp appears on many Washington Navy Yard pistols made during this time period.
- 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, 69.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 260.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1814
- maker
- French, Thomas
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.21
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.21
- collector/donor number
- P121L
- 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
Model 1817 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .69 caliber smoothbore, flintlock U.S. Model 1817 pistol was made by the Springfield Armory. It has all iron mountings, an integral forged iron flashpan, double barrel bands fastening at the fore stock, a brass blade front sight, an iron backstrap from tang to butt cap and a swelled wooden ramrod with a metal ferrule on the opposite end. The stock extends further than the band.
- The lockplate is stamped “US” under an eagle by the flash pan. It is stamped “SPRING/FIELD/1818” at the rear of the lock plate. The top of the barrel is stamped “1818” with a raised “P” and eagle head and a “V”. There is a “CC” stamped upside on the inside of the lockplate.
- History:
- In 1814, the Springfield Armory began production on the Model 1803 Half Stock Rifles that were being produced at Harpers Ferry. By 1816, due to problems with machinery, the production was aborted.
- Colonel Robert Lee, Superintendent of the Springfield Armory and Colonel Decius Wadsworth, of the Ordnance Office, began an initiative in 1817 to use the Model 1803 parts that had not been used for the Model 1817 Pistol. The only reason these pistols were manufactured was to rid the Armory of spare parts.
- The only difference between the Model 1807 and Model 1817 Springfield pistols is a reinforced hammer. This hammer is held into place with a spring and screw visible from the outside of the lockplate. It also has a smooth point at the rear.
- Two pistols of this type have holes in its backstraps that could potentially have been used for an extended shoulder stock although none have ever been found.
- 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. 185.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 281.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1818
- maker
- Springfield Armory
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.16
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.16
- collector/donor number
- P118L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1807/1817 Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .69 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. Model 1807 pistol was made by the Springfield Armory. It is iron mounted with double barrel bands, a stock that extends past the band, a brass blade front sight on forward strap, a hickory ramrod with swelled tip and a threaded metal ferrule.
- It is stamped “U.S.” under an eagle and “SPRING/FIELD/1818” on the lockplate.
- History:
- On April 26, 1782 Congress approved the construction of the Springfield Armory as a “good and efficient magazine for the reception of the public ammunition.” It began manufacturing pistols for U.S. government use in 1807.
- Production of this pistol was started in 1807 but stopped in 1808 when military pistols were changed to .54 caliber. In 1815, some of these pistols were sent to Harpers Ferry and finished. The rest were not finished in Springfield until 1817 and 1818. They were the first to be made in quantity at the Springfield Armory.
- 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. 185.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 280.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1818
- associated date
- 1815
- maker
- Springfield Armory
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.17
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.17
- collector/donor number
- P119L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Virginia Manufactory Pistol Second Model
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber smoothbore flintlock 2nd Model pistol was made by the Virginia Manufactory. It was modeled after the Harpers Ferry Model 1805. It has brass mountings, a walnut half stock and is wedge fastened. It has an iron rib under the barrel with a wooden ramrod with swelled tip.
- It is stamped “VIRGINIA” and “RICHMOND/1812” on the lockplate. “P” is stamped inside the lockplate and so is “VIII” and “8”. The walnut stock is stamped “RI”.
- History:
- The Virginia Manufactory is also known as the Richmond Armory and the Virginia State Armory. It was established by the Act of 1797 to manufacture arms for the state militia. It was built along the James River and was initially in production from 1802 through 1820. The man who was in charge of the armory was James Haslett. He was formerly employed by McCormick. He was recommended for the job by Colonel John Shee, a surgeon from Philadelphia who served in the Third Pennsylvania Battalion. He wrote to the Governor of Virginia that they would “be enabled to engage Haslett…for the Richmond Armory.” The Armory reopened in 1860 for production during the Civil War.
- It is a rare pistol type made with a hickory ramrod. Fewer than 300 wooden ramrods were made after 1812 because the iron swivel type was favored. There are cuts in the iron rib to make it easier to get the ramrod.
- 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. 200.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 242.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1812
- associated date
- 1812
- maker
- Virginia State Armory
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.22
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.22
- collector/donor number
- P114L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Virgina Manufactory Pistol, 2nd Model
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber smoothbore flintlock pistol 2nd Model was made by the Virginia State Armory in Richmond Virginia. It is wedge fastened, has an iron rib under the barrel, a walnut half stock, and a swivel type ramrod with button head. It has a brass ramrod pipe, buttplate and trigger guard.
- The lock plate is stamped “RICHMOND” under the flashpan and “1815” at the rear. “77” is stamped on the left side of the barrel. The inside of the lock plate is stamped “V”.
- History:
- The Virginia Manufactory is also known as the Richmond Armory and the Virginia State Armory. It was established by the Act of 1797 to manufacture arms for the state militia. It was built along the James River and was initially in production from 1802 through 1820. The man who was in charge of the armory was James Haslett. He was formerly employed by McCormick. He was recommended for the job by Colonel John Shee, a surgeon from Philadelphia who served in the Third Pennsylvania Battalion. He wrote to the Governor of Virginia that the state would “be enabled to engage Haslett…for the Richmond Armory.” The Armory reopened in 1860 for production during the Civil War.
- The Virginia Manufactory was one of the only companies to issue only one pistol. This practice was called the single pistol theory. It was based on the economy and the belief that a sword was more important to a cavalryman than a pistol.
- This pistol has two differences from other pistols with this date. It has a thicker and straighter grip and the lock marking lacks the typical “VIRGINIA” stamp.
- 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. 200.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 246.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1815
- maker
- Virginia Manufactory
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.30
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.30
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- collector/donor number
- P179L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center