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Your Price: $ 1750.00
Item Number: 63534
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Another treasure from our many years of seeking out such things, (see www.MaineLegacy.com) this exceptionally desirable Mod. 1842 emanated from the remains of Bosworth G. A. R. Post Department of Maine in Portland when the post was unceremoniously dismantled in the 1960s with much of its content scattered hither and yon. This likely early Civil War Confederate issue, Mod. 1842 remains excellent condition with good evidence of period use and carrying while offering crisp wood with pleasing natural age patina on wood and metal with crisp martial markings on both. The lock is mechanically excellent, with most of the internal parts retaining a large majority of their bright, fire-blued finish. The lock plate is marked US H. ASTON MIDDtn CONN 1852. Of special interest to the Confederate collector, the US on the US JPC P barrel marking bears obviously period peening obliteration. Per our internet research ( ChatGPT is a good start.) this particular obliteration method is attributed to pistols taken from the Alabama Mt. Vernon Arsenal. While it's difficult to find documentation on the exact obliteration process used by each of the various Confederate state arsenals, it is well established that many a captured or early war CS state arsenal US Mod. 1842 suffered this indignity by chisel crosshatching or peening.
The stock remains in very pleasing condition with sharp edges and offers two crisp script inspection cartouches on the side flat, the final ordnance acceptance stamp W.A.T. in script of William A. Thornton and just forward of that the JCB inspection stamp of Joseph C. Bragg, perhaps familiar to collectors from his inspection of Colt Dragoons. In short, this arm remains in unmolested exceptional condition throughout while offering desirable evidence of light period use and carrying.
Representing both the beginning and the end of an era in US military handguns, the Mod.1842 pistol was both the first official percussion ignition pistol to be adopted by the US military and the last of the large bore, single shot, smooth bore pistols to be issued in any quantity. The Model 1842 was .54 caliber with an 8 ˝ inch long smooth bore barrel intended to use the same round ball as the US Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle. A general service arm issued to the infantry, cavalry, dragoons, and artillery, like its flintlock predecessors, the Mod. 1842 had a large bulbous capped butt specifically designed to allow the weapon’s use as a club after discharge. Primarily issued from 1845 through 1851 the Mod.1842 saw heavy use in the Mexican / American War with large inventories transferred to state arsenals between 1855 and 1859. This included thousands to southern state arsenals, especially Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 these large Southern state stores of the Mod. 1842 saw issue in these now Confederate states. This piece has been of particular interest to us over the years by virtue of the fact that it emanated from the Portland Bosworth G.A.R. collection particularly known to us as containing many a captured CS treasure. We have always felt that its extra nice condition especially for Confederate use was an indication that the piece was an early Civil War re-capture. Ultimately passed to the Maine GAR Post #2 by a veteran member for inclusion in their collection, the pistol was deassessed to a local historian upon destruction of the Bosworth Hall in the 1960s, then acquired by us to be maintained as part of our personal collection. (see: www.MaineLegacy.com for a sampling ) Now in our 80s it is time to find an appreciative new home. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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