M1842 Pistol Replica?

[.455_Hunter]

Does anybody make a replica of the US M1842 service pistol (.54 cal smooth bore percussion single shot)? It saw a great deal of use in the Civil War, and seems like it would be a relatively popular item. There are replicas of about every other US muzzle loading service weapon (both flint and cap), so why not the M1842?

 

[mec]

Don't know of any replicas but it's not uncommon to find an original in shootable condition. One thing to look out for is a cracked stock that is only apparent with the barrel/lock out of the gun. this happened alot either from recoil or using the thing as a cudgel. There would be nothing wrong with using some bedding gel to fix any such problem.

We found one in great shape for 600- which is about half of some quotes I've seen. The lock work still had intact fire blue on the bridge and screws and otherwise looked about a day old.
Guns Magazine article:
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/DGM0707.html

 

[.455_Hunter]

mec-

That a great article! It that your gun?

 

[Jim K]

Those are darn fine pistols and were well liked by the troops. Shootable ones can be found for around $600-700. If a replica is ever made, I hope it is as good as the original.

(If you think .45 makes an impact statement, try reversing the digits.)

Jim

 

[mec]

the owner is Johnny Bates, He found it at a dallas market hall show with a guy who had several more. The guy was accomidating enough to let him take it apart to look at the stock. Don't know if JB still has it or not. The one question mark was that the nipple is frozen in place. We were hoping that the threads were not rusted out and shot it anyway since there was no visible indication of excess corrosion.

 

[StrawHat]

At one time Navy Arms imported a replica of the 1855 Horse Pistol with a shoulder stock. Not the 1842 but similar.

The pistol was accurate enough to use a lot. The shoulder stock messed with the balance and the point of impact. It is now being carried by a Civil War reinactor who seems pleased with it.

That was the only percussion horse pistol I am aware of being imported.

 

[Cap n Ball]

My luck is usually very good or very bad with not much inbetween but about eight years ago on our usual rambling way to Gettysburg we stopped at a little run down fleamarket on a county road in Indiana. The old woman that ran the place dealt mostly in clothing. I noticed in the corner of a dusty display case the butt end of a pistol sticking out from under a pile of odds and ends. I asked her to let me see it and lo and behold it was an 1842! She didn't know anything about firearms and said that she got it at an estate sale as a thrown in extra. It wouldn't hold at half cock and I pointed this out to her. She shrugged and said I could have it for fifty dollars. I couldn't pay her quick enough! Later when I took it apart I found that the sear was missing a screw. My gunsmith fixed that and it worked fine. No cracks in the wood. I had to replace the stove bolt someone had put in place of the original pin in the barrel swivel for the rammer but other than that it was fine. It's a late one made in 1853 according to the barrel stamp. I still shoot it and carry it on reenactments. Never heard of any replicas of the 1842 other than dummy guns made of aluminum used in films. Keep looking for an original! Those things are out there!

 

[arcticap]

I have an Indian made Sea Service percussion pistol that
looks somewhat similar except that its smooth bore is .667.
I bought it privately and haven't seen it offered for sale in
percussion anywhere, but only in flint. But it didn't cost
anywhere near as much as an original.
The stock wood is soft but the quality of the steel is good.