The U.S. Model 1836 Pistol was the last flintlock pistol model, and many were later converted to percussion with the "cone in the barrel" conversion. This pistol was converted to percussion during its working life, and was later reconverted back to flintlock using replica parts. The bore is dark with heavy pitting. The stock has a large chip at the tail of the lock plate. This antique pistol weighs 2.5 pounds.
The tapered round barrel is 8-1/2" in length in .54 caliber smoothbore, and this example has a bore diameter of .570" at the muzzle. The bore is dark with heavy pitting. The breech is stamped JCS near the breech. This pistol has no rear sight, only a small brass front sight blade soldered behind the muzzle. The polished bright barrel has mellowed to a dull gray with heavy brown speckling. A plug can be seen above the touch hole from when the pistol was reconverted back to flintlock from percussion. The captured steel ramrod, with swivel links, yoke, and mounting screw, are designed to prevent loss in the field. The ramrod can easily be withdrawn, swiveled to push the load down the barrel, and returned to the stock.
Stocked in walnut, trimmed in iron furniture with long backstrap for strength. The stock has many handling marks with a crack from the top lock bolt to the barrel channel. There is also a large chip in the lock panel at the tail of the lock. The wood around the tang above the lock is worn away from ignition flash. The iron buttcap has a long strap that abutts the breech plug tang. The sideplate has an iron extension that joins the integral iron barrel band, making a very strong military service pistol. The faint outlines of the two cartouche marks on the side panel are visible, but the letters cannot be determined. The front of the iron triggerguard has a small N inspection mark.
The lock plate is marked A. Waters / Milbury Ms. / 1838 in three line. The lock plate has heavy pitting under the brass pan. The cock, top jaw, frizzen, and frizzen spring are modern replicas. The cock is too tall and the flint is positioned above the frizzen when the lock is in the full cock position. The lock, furniture, and barrel were scrubbed bright and have developed a pitted speckled brown patina.
This pistol will be a joy to display and it will be a great addition to any military arms collection. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
