Forum Host- Joined
- Aug 26, 2021
- Location
- North Carolina
As some may know, I recently decided to switch my collecting interest toward Confederate items. I know - dark and dangerous waters! Buyer beware, both of frauds and of going broke! Given the supply/demand relationship of things Confederate, I realize that short of winning the lottery my "collection" will only ever amount to a few items. But I am enjoying the research, the hunt, and the pursuit of a few items.
I am proud to present this Confederate-altered US model 1836 pistol.
Per Murphy and Madaus' book, Confederate Rifles and Muskets, "1,093 pistols altered at Fayetteville incorporate several common characteristics. All observed alterations were affected on US model 1836 contract pistols usually are Johnson's contracts with the dates between 1837 1840. Barrels often but not necessarily are marked with the North Carolina state ownership mark.The alteration process consist of enlarging the vent on the right side of the barrel threading it then starting a cylindrical bolster tapped for a cone and drilled through on its right side for cleaning the channel the plug for the small screw. The hammer has a distinctive configuration similar to that of the Fayetteville rifle hammer."
"Reassembly codes vary on the pistols examined but usually consist of Arabic number or a letter in conjunction with an number struck into the rear face of a hammer, on the interior of the lock plate, and in some cases the wood of lock cavity."
In Shannon Prichards book Collecting the Confederacy, he states, "The single shot percussion pistol seems much too antiquated for service in 1861. In reality, it was one of the better arms available to the Confederate Calvary early in the war. While there were plenty of volunteers to fill the Calvary ranks the government was unable to arm them."
This pistol is reported to have been modified by MA Baker in Fayetteville North Carolina. Baker, a Fayetteville gunsmith, was known to have altered a number of arms for the State of North Carolina and the Confederate Ordnance Department in 1861 and 1862. His work is distinguished by the distinctive hammer style and method of bolster alteration from flintlock to percussion. Also distinctive is the secondary number stampings on the inside of the hammer, in the wood opposite the lock, and on the underside of the barrel.
Based in my own research, I'm dubious as to whether this pistol is a MA Baker modification as the bolster is different (or perhaps modified later?). However, it does have the Arabic number 12 on inside of the hammer, on the left side of the stock, on the bottom of the barrel, and on the inside of the lock. And of course the distinctive Fayetteville hammer.
Whether Baker or some other gunsmith made this conversation, I was confident that it is a Confederate converted pistol. However, to be sure, I asked Shannon Pritchard (Collecting the Confederacy author and well known expert on Confederate items) to examine the pistol. Per Mr. Pritchard, "There is no doubt that this is a Fayetteville Conversion, whether Baker did at Fayetteville or not is irrelevant. It is correct and at a very good price." And with that confirmation I purchased it. (I did not notice it until after purchase but the original inspector initials on the barrel "JCS" are also my own initials! How cool!)
While not as "sexy" as the Kerr, LeMatt, or pistols made by the Confederacy, this pistol played an important role as a stopgap in the first year of the war to arm Confederate forces until imports and Southern manufacturing could catch up. I'm proud to add it to my minuscule Confederate collection.
I am proud to present this Confederate-altered US model 1836 pistol.
Per Murphy and Madaus' book, Confederate Rifles and Muskets, "1,093 pistols altered at Fayetteville incorporate several common characteristics. All observed alterations were affected on US model 1836 contract pistols usually are Johnson's contracts with the dates between 1837 1840. Barrels often but not necessarily are marked with the North Carolina state ownership mark.The alteration process consist of enlarging the vent on the right side of the barrel threading it then starting a cylindrical bolster tapped for a cone and drilled through on its right side for cleaning the channel the plug for the small screw. The hammer has a distinctive configuration similar to that of the Fayetteville rifle hammer."
"Reassembly codes vary on the pistols examined but usually consist of Arabic number or a letter in conjunction with an number struck into the rear face of a hammer, on the interior of the lock plate, and in some cases the wood of lock cavity."
In Shannon Prichards book Collecting the Confederacy, he states, "The single shot percussion pistol seems much too antiquated for service in 1861. In reality, it was one of the better arms available to the Confederate Calvary early in the war. While there were plenty of volunteers to fill the Calvary ranks the government was unable to arm them."
This pistol is reported to have been modified by MA Baker in Fayetteville North Carolina. Baker, a Fayetteville gunsmith, was known to have altered a number of arms for the State of North Carolina and the Confederate Ordnance Department in 1861 and 1862. His work is distinguished by the distinctive hammer style and method of bolster alteration from flintlock to percussion. Also distinctive is the secondary number stampings on the inside of the hammer, in the wood opposite the lock, and on the underside of the barrel.
Based in my own research, I'm dubious as to whether this pistol is a MA Baker modification as the bolster is different (or perhaps modified later?). However, it does have the Arabic number 12 on inside of the hammer, on the left side of the stock, on the bottom of the barrel, and on the inside of the lock. And of course the distinctive Fayetteville hammer.
Whether Baker or some other gunsmith made this conversation, I was confident that it is a Confederate converted pistol. However, to be sure, I asked Shannon Pritchard (Collecting the Confederacy author and well known expert on Confederate items) to examine the pistol. Per Mr. Pritchard, "There is no doubt that this is a Fayetteville Conversion, whether Baker did at Fayetteville or not is irrelevant. It is correct and at a very good price." And with that confirmation I purchased it. (I did not notice it until after purchase but the original inspector initials on the barrel "JCS" are also my own initials! How cool!)
While not as "sexy" as the Kerr, LeMatt, or pistols made by the Confederacy, this pistol played an important role as a stopgap in the first year of the war to arm Confederate forces until imports and Southern manufacturing could catch up. I'm proud to add it to my minuscule Confederate collection.
Bringing the