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LOT 1209
Rare Presentation Grade Cased Pair of Early Production U.S.N. Ames Contract
Model 1842 Percussion Navy Pistols Dated 1842 with Accessories -A) U.S.N. Ames
Contract Model 1842 Percussion Navy Pistol - NSN, 54 percussion cal., 6 inch round
bbl., brown/casehardened/silver finish, walnut stock. Manufactured by N.P. Ames of
Springfield, Massachusetts, and Henry Derringer of Philadelphia circa 1842 to 1847, these
pistols are also known as the Model 1842 or Navy Box Lock Model with an estimated 2,000
pistols manufactured in all. The Model 1842 was the first U.S. martial percussion pistol
produced under contract for the government. Ames delivered 300 of these pistols to the
government before the contract was signed. These two pistols were part of the first 300
Ames delivered in 1842. The very early production examples, such as these two pistols,
featured a raised lock plate with a beveled edge along the front and a high rounded shape
at the rear which terminated in a point. The lock plates are marked “U.S.N./1842” vertically
at the rear and “N.P. AMES/SPRINGFIELD/MASS” in the center. The barrel tang is also
dated “1842”, and the left rear of the barrel is stamped “U.S.N./JCB” above a circled “P.” The
grip is slender and a bit longer than the later production pistols. These pistols also have
features that make them presentation models, or pistols intended for someone outside
the standard government contract. These features include the silver plated brass butt caps,
trigger guards, and front barrel bands and walnut stocks without inspection cartouches.
The pistols are fitted in a walnut case that contains several accessories including two
double face eagle brass flasks, a triangular shaped combination tool, and two cap tins.
Although these pistols lack a presentation engraving, the silver plating and the lack of
stock inspection marks are features that indicate that these pistols were intended for some
one of importance. These pistols were purportedly the personal property of a War of 1812
U.S. naval officer George C. Reed. Born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1788, George C.
Reed joined the United States Navy as a midshipman at the age of 16 and joined the crew
of the USS Constitution under the command of his uncle,Capt. Hugh G. Campbell in 1806.
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