3291 EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PAIR OF M1805 HARPERS FERRY

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This item SOLD at 2023 Nov 05 @ 15:30UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 20,000.00 USD
Estimated at 40,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
FLINTLOCK PISTOLS DATED 1806 & NUMBERED 106. Cal. 54. S# 106. Bbl. 10 1/16". President George Washington selected Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) as the location of one of the two new United States armories to be constructed. Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, providing ample water power for a variety of manufacturing pursuits. Construction began in 1799 on the new arsenal and arms production facility. The Harpers Ferry Arsenal manufactured the first arsenal produced military handgun, the model 1805 smoothboard pistol. The M1805 pistols were numbered and issued in pairs. Therefore, of the 4,096 manufactured, the highest serial number would be 2048 as each pistol in a pair was numbered identically. Of the 4,096 produced, only 300 were manufactured at Harpers Ferry dated 1806. Fewer than 20% of pistols produced by Harpers Ferry in 1806 are known to exist today, which makes this pair extraordinary rarities. This pair is serial numbered "106". Each pistol has a round barrel with an eagle over "P" in oval proof, as well as a "US" in oval proof on the left side adjacent to the serial number, "106". Both pistols are original flint with the original lock intact. The locks feature a spread-wing American eagle over "US" in front of the cocks, and "HARPERS FERRY 1806" to the rear of the cocks. The pistols have brass trigger guards, butt caps, side plates, nose bands, and entry thimbles. Each pistol has an iron ramrod thimble that houses a wooden ramrod. Pistol A has a partially visible cartouche on the stock just in back of the rear side plate screw. This pistol has a hickory ramrod with a swelled tip. Pistol B has a barely visible cartouche on the stock just in back of the rear side plate screw. This pistol has a replaced wooden ramrod with a swelled brass tip. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a book by Rick Hudak titled "HARPERS FERRY ARSENAL AND JOSEPH PERKIN: The Classic Arms of the Early Years". CONDITION: pistol A: this pistol has a medium gray mottled patina on the barrel with a worn added sight near the muzzle. The touch hole is quite large, attesting to the long service of this pistol. The lock also has a medium gray, somewhat mottled patina. The lock holds both full & half cock. Brass has a pleasing mustard patina. There is an added small silver escutcheon plate at the top of the wrist. The stock has a 1 1/2" pieced-in repair at the grip with a tiny repair at the left side just above the buttcap. Fair bore. Pistol B: this pistol has a light gray, lightly cleaned finish on the barrel. The touch hole is of normal size and does not appear to have been bushed. The lock has a medium gray, lightly mottled patina. The lock holds both full & half cock. Brass has a pleasing mustard patina. The stock has areas of fill around the vertical appendages leading up from the buttcap. Good bore. PROVENANCE: from the Collection of Rick Hudak, author of, "Harpers Ferry Arsenal and Joseph Perkin". (01-23197/BF). ANTIQUE. $40,000-50,000.