US MODEL 1842 PISTOL BY ASTON, MADE IN 1850

US MODEL 1842 PISTOL BY ASTON, MADE IN 1850

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Item Code: 490-7461

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The last of the US single shot martial pistols and first of the US percussion pistols, the US Model 1842 percussion pistol was successor to the flintlock Model 1836. Like that earlier pistol, it was intended to be carried by mounted troops in pairs, one in each pocket of the holsters strapped across the pommel of the saddle. They were intended for use by both US forces and state militias. Some saw early-war service in Confederate cavalry, drawing from militia stores and even some later service in southern rear-echelon/local guard units. With the advent of revolvers that had become the sidearm of choice in the 1850s, the horse pistol fell into disuse.

This is a good example made by Henry Aston under his first contract for 24,000 from 1846 to 1851. A Third contract, with Ira N. Johnson, an Aston business partner, who bought the factory and assets, brought the government another 10,000 from 1853 to 1855. (William Glaze also produced his non-US contract Palmetto Armory version in South Carolina.) The pistols were single-shot, .54 caliber smooth-bores, and were fitted with a captive, swivel ramrod, in the hope a trooper might actually be able to reload his pistol while mounted, and not lose the ramrod in the process. They were mounted with brass butt-cap, trigger-guard with long strap, backstrap, side plate and barrel band. All in all, these are hefty, robust pistols.

All markings are sharp. The lock is stamped forward of the hammer, US / H. ASTON & CO. (the proper marking for these second contract pistols) and MIDDTN/ CONN/1850 to the rear. The barrel proof at left breach reads US/ GW / P, indicating inspection by George Wright, who worked at the Springfield Armory and was an inspector of contract arms in the early 1850s. The breech-plug tang has a crisp 1850 date. The wood has 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 “GW” inspection stamp of George Wright, one of nine different inspectors of the Model 1842 pistol at different times. (We note also what is likely is a small “JH” on the barrel side-flat at left breach.)

The barrel is smooth metal, silver gray in color, with a few small dots of browning. The bolster and lock show a silver gray also, with the hammer/lock-plate matching in color. The brass has an undisturbed, aged mellow patina. The wood has a good fit to the metal, nice brown tones, good edges, no sign of sanding or refinishing, just a few light scratches and handling dings.

The pistol rates very good overall. The action is fine. The bore is a bit dirty and dusty. This is a very nice example of a regulation US pistol for mounted troops that is a key piece in tracing the development of cavalry arms. [stp] [ph:L]

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