NE - GOOD- in working condition, wear on working surfaces, finish 40% - 79%, no broken parts, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper functioning, but may have some minor surface pitting. Wood condition commensurable with percent of finish with dings and dents associated with 40% - 79% gun.

Manufactured in 1976. Comes in a shared display case with "B."

OG - POOR- major or minor parts replaced; major replacement parts required and extensive restoration needed; metal deeply pitted; principal lettering, numerals and design obliterated, wood badly scratched, bruised, cracked or broken; mechanically inoperative; generally undesirable as a collectors firearm in its present state.

The North & Cheney Model 1799 pistol was the first official model of pistol adopted by the United States. It is also the first of the numerous U.S. contract pistols manufactured by Simeon North. Collectors estimate that only about 20 Model 1799 pistols still exist today. This one is discussed as the 19th found in the included articles and has been nicknamed the "North & Gravel" pistol. The U.S. Model 1799 pistols closely resemble the French Model 1777 pistols but have several distinctive features, including one inch longer barrels, rounded breech assemblies, and extra barrel screws on the lower front edge of the frames. This pistol has the second style markings that consist of: "NORTH & CHENEY BERLIN" in an arched curve on the underside of the brass frame. This pistol is discussed in the article "North and Cheney and Now It's 19" by Del Zornada in the included copies of The Gun Report from September 1967. The article has some tongue in cheek comments about the finish and the muzzlebrake/flash hider holes on the barrel and indicates: "This pistol was dredged our of the Meramac River (Missouri) through an eight inch line impeller revolving into the gravel and a water pump sucking the gravel up...It was found about one half mile south of Highway 30 (Gravois Road)." The article also relates some early history of the area including the slaying of members of the House family by "Meramecs." A copy of Guns from February 1968 with the article "History from a River Bed" by Robert Mandel is also included relaying mostly the same information. He notes: "Yes, of course, you know so-and-so who has one in fine, original condition, or have seen one or two in historical museums. But save your breath; theirs does not have the nice brown patina as this one."