This martial sidearm is a government contract Model 1836 single-shot pistol converted to percussion.  Gunsmith / manufacturer Robert Johnson of Middletown, Connecticut, produced 41,000 such pistols from 1836 through 1844.  The 14” long military pistol is a .54 caliber smoothbore muzzleloader that has an 8 ½” round barrel with a good, clean bore. Barrel is a mottled gray-brown with some light pitting around the nipple. All iron furniture and mountings about the same; hammer is cleaner. Barrel has a brass blade front sight and an oval shaped rear sight on tang. The casehardened lockplate is flat with beveled edges forward of the hammer and convex at the rear.   Maker name on the lockplate is light but very readable: “U S. / R. JOHNSON / MIDD^N CONN / 1841” in front of the hammer.   Lockplate plain behind the hammer. Stamped on the upper barrel at the breech are “JH / P”.  Barrel band has a strap extension that joins the sideplate.

The dark black walnut stock exhibits a deep patina and features one very light (visible under glass) oval inspector’s cartouche on the flat opposite the hammer. A deep rub is in the same area. The stock is overall good and strong with two exceptions. A repair has been made to the nose of the stock at the ramrod channel in front of the barrel band. Another repair is to a small crack below the rear portion of the lockplate.  Ground down portion of brass flash pan is visible on right side.  Mechanics work.  Trigger guard riveted to the plate. Round buttcap displays a long integral tang that forms the rear strap of the grip. Weapon has a swivel-type steel button-head ramrod. One of the swivel rivets has been replaced with a nut and bolt.

This single-shot, martial-marked M1836 converted pistol by Connecticut-maker Robert Johnson is a nice single-shot pistol representative of early side arms.   [jet]

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