Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this historical single-shot pistol today for a penny start auction, this is the Henry Aston & Co. U.S.Model 1842 Percussion Pistol!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Henry Aston & Co.
Model: U.S.Model 1842 Percussion Pistol
Serial: No Serial
Date of Manufacture: 1851
Caliber: .54
Finish: Bright turned grey
Barrel Length: 8"
Optics/Sights: Brass blade front
Stock/Grips: Smooth black walnut with brass furniture
Action: Muzzleloader / Single Action
Markings: Standard / The lockplate is stamped "US H.Aston & Co." and "MIDDTN CONN 1851" behind the hammer. The breech is stamped "US WN P" in three lines, which are inspector marks, and WN is inspector Walter North. The barrel on the back left side is also stamped "JH", the Springfield Armory Sub Inspector Joseph Hannis. The top tang is stamped with a very faint "51" the last two digits of 1851. The grip is stamped with two cartouches on the left, one being "WAT" and the other being "WN".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: U.S.Model 1842 Percussion Pistol
Serial: No Serial
Date of Manufacture: 1851
Caliber: .54
Finish: Bright turned grey
Barrel Length: 8"
Optics/Sights: Brass blade front
Stock/Grips: Smooth black walnut with brass furniture
Action: Muzzleloader / Single Action
Markings: Standard / The lockplate is stamped "US H.Aston & Co." and "MIDDTN CONN 1851" behind the hammer. The breech is stamped "US WN P" in three lines, which are inspector marks, and WN is inspector Walter North. The barrel on the back left side is also stamped "JH", the Springfield Armory Sub Inspector Joseph Hannis. The top tang is stamped with a very faint "51" the last two digits of 1851. The grip is stamped with two cartouches on the left, one being "WAT" and the other being "WN".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
As the U.S. Army’s first percussion pistol, the Model 1842 replaced the Model 1836 flintlock, and it would subsequently blaze its way through the Civil War and across the country as the nation expanded westward. The Model 1842 was almost identical to the Model 1836, with the obvious exception of its percussion nipple and lock. In addition, unlike the Model 1836, the Model 1842 used precisely gauged, interchangeable parts. But, like its predecessor, it was stocked in black walnut and featured a polished lockplate, hammer and barrel, and a blued trigger.
Also like the Model 1836, the Model 1842 had no rear sight, and its 8½" smoothbore barrel sported a 0.525" bore that took a .54-cal. round ball. The Model 1842 incorporated brass furniture rather than the iron fittings of the Model 1836, but retained the hinged ramrod under the barrel, a convenient but potentially dangerous arrangement, as it necessitated placing one’s hand in front of the muzzle when reloading. Nonetheless, with a regulation 30-gr. powder charge, this 2-lb., 12-oz. pistol, typically issued in pairs to mounted dragoons for carrying in twin pommel holsters, proved to be a formidable handgun. Despite its 1842 nomenclature, very few guns were made until 1845, when gunmaker Henry Aston of Middletown, Conn., was contracted by Springfield Armory to start production. The timing was fortuitous, coming just before the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
From 1846 to 1851, Aston produced 24,000 guns, stamped “H. ASTON” under “US” on the lockplate, which was also stamped “MIDDtn/CONN/” and the specific year the pistols were delivered to the Ordnance Dept. The left side of the stock was stamped two cartouches “WAT” for chief inspector Capt. William A. Thornton, and “WN” inspector stamp. After the factory’s reorganization in 1851, another 6,000 guns were stamped “H.ASTON & COMPANY.” Aston’s partner, Ira N. Johnson, then took over and produced an additional 10,000 pistols from 1853 until 1855. In addition, the Palmetto Armory of Columbia, S.C., made approximately 2,000 pistols, which the Confederacy later used.
Also like the Model 1836, the Model 1842 had no rear sight, and its 8½" smoothbore barrel sported a 0.525" bore that took a .54-cal. round ball. The Model 1842 incorporated brass furniture rather than the iron fittings of the Model 1836, but retained the hinged ramrod under the barrel, a convenient but potentially dangerous arrangement, as it necessitated placing one’s hand in front of the muzzle when reloading. Nonetheless, with a regulation 30-gr. powder charge, this 2-lb., 12-oz. pistol, typically issued in pairs to mounted dragoons for carrying in twin pommel holsters, proved to be a formidable handgun. Despite its 1842 nomenclature, very few guns were made until 1845, when gunmaker Henry Aston of Middletown, Conn., was contracted by Springfield Armory to start production. The timing was fortuitous, coming just before the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
From 1846 to 1851, Aston produced 24,000 guns, stamped “H. ASTON” under “US” on the lockplate, which was also stamped “MIDDtn/CONN/” and the specific year the pistols were delivered to the Ordnance Dept. The left side of the stock was stamped two cartouches “WAT” for chief inspector Capt. William A. Thornton, and “WN” inspector stamp. After the factory’s reorganization in 1851, another 6,000 guns were stamped “H.ASTON & COMPANY.” Aston’s partner, Ira N. Johnson, then took over and produced an additional 10,000 pistols from 1853 until 1855. In addition, the Palmetto Armory of Columbia, S.C., made approximately 2,000 pistols, which the Confederacy later used.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
Our #1 priority is customer satisfaction. We want to build a lasting trust in the relationship with our customers, so that you will always look to us for all your firearms needs. If you have any issues with your transactions please contact us, and we will work with you to resolve any issues you may have. We greatly appreciate your trust in us and we look forward to fulfilling all your future firearm needs.
Bryant Ridge also reserves the right to cancel any sales that may occur while gunbroker.com is experiencing technical issues that affects the entire site or a complete site outage, within an hour of the auction ending.
We have an amazing inventory of classic and collector firearms that we are adding to Gunbroker daily. Stay up to date on all of our latest auction by adding us to your favorite sellers list.
About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
