forward observer
Member
I just wanted to show off what UPS just delivered yesterday. I've always wanted one of these so-called horse pistols--especially in shooting condition. So, here is my new US model 1842 martial single shot .54 cal smoothbore Dragoon pistol. There were two contract makers for these pistols. Henry Aston and a former partner of Aston's--Ira Johnson. Between the two makers, they produced over 40,000 pistols for the US military between 1846 and 1852. Aston produced the lions share at around 30k, but Johnson continued to produce the pistols in small spurts well toward the end of the decade. Even with the advent of the more advanced percussion revolvers, these single-shot smooth bores continued to be used by US troops well up until the opening years of the ACW---or at least until the revolvers became available in sufficient quantities.
These were never serial numbered, but the production date on the lockplate of this example is 1847, which means that is could have possibly been carried by some US Dragoon in the Mexican-American war (1846 to 1848) It's in relatively good shape for a 172-year-old firearm, and the bore is quite clean and free of pits, so I would have no hesitation to shoot it. The nipple is a bit corroded--as is common of many of these, and if I intended to fire it very much, I would replace it. Getting it out might be a challenge since it appears almost welded to the barrel after probably not having been removed for more than 150 years.
I'm sure the gun has been cleaned over the years and the wood probably sanded and refinished as evidenced by the rounded corners of the flats in the stock around the lockplate. Also, the cartouche, while evident on the left side opposite the lock, is basically illegible.
Anyway here are some photos
lock side
left side
close up fairly clean lock plate still showing well-defined makers marks and dates.
Lastly, a glamor shot with a few pseudo-period-appropriate props. US troops during the Mexican war used mostly white buff leather, so I faked up a waist belt with the shoulder strap from my Brown Bess cartridge box. I forget where I got the M1840 forage hat (wheel cap)--but probably picked it up at a militaria show well over 30 years ago. The saber is actually an 1860 model photoshopped with extra wire wrappings on the grip to stand in for the more correct 1840 model
Cheers
These were never serial numbered, but the production date on the lockplate of this example is 1847, which means that is could have possibly been carried by some US Dragoon in the Mexican-American war (1846 to 1848) It's in relatively good shape for a 172-year-old firearm, and the bore is quite clean and free of pits, so I would have no hesitation to shoot it. The nipple is a bit corroded--as is common of many of these, and if I intended to fire it very much, I would replace it. Getting it out might be a challenge since it appears almost welded to the barrel after probably not having been removed for more than 150 years.
I'm sure the gun has been cleaned over the years and the wood probably sanded and refinished as evidenced by the rounded corners of the flats in the stock around the lockplate. Also, the cartouche, while evident on the left side opposite the lock, is basically illegible.
Anyway here are some photos
lock side
left side
close up fairly clean lock plate still showing well-defined makers marks and dates.
Lastly, a glamor shot with a few pseudo-period-appropriate props. US troops during the Mexican war used mostly white buff leather, so I faked up a waist belt with the shoulder strap from my Brown Bess cartridge box. I forget where I got the M1840 forage hat (wheel cap)--but probably picked it up at a militaria show well over 30 years ago. The saber is actually an 1860 model photoshopped with extra wire wrappings on the grip to stand in for the more correct 1840 model
Cheers
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