Physical Description:
This .72 caliber smoothbore, flintlock U.S. Second Model 1799 pistol was made by North and Cheney. It has a brass frame trigger guard and buttcap, an iron backstrap, no forestock, a one piece walnut handle, and a steel ramrod with button head.
Under the brass frame, “NORTH & CHENEY BERLIN” is stamped. The barrel has a “P” on the left side and a “V” on the screw heads.
History:
Simeon North and his brother-in-law Elisha Cheney went into business for a short period of time. They produced around 2,000 Model 1799 Contract Pistols in two contracts – the first, delivering 500 and the second, 1500. It was the first official model adopted by the U.S. government.
This pistol was modeled after the Model 1777 French pistol. This pistol is from the Second contract. Archived correspondence between North and the War department in 1801 and 1802 that verify shipments of these North and Cheney pistols.
This particular pistol – numbered 311 – was part of the William M. Locke Collection and was sold to the Bitter Collection 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. 142.
Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 130.
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