Reportedly, 38,200 of the Model 1817 rifles were manufactured by various contractors between 1817-1842, and Nathan Starr produced approximately 10,200 of them. Model 1817s saw use in the Seminole Wars, Mexican-American War and remained in use during the Civil War. The Model 1817 was dubbed the "common rifle" in correspondence to differentiate it from the more unusual Hall breech loading rifles. At the time, rifles in military use in general were uncommon, but the U.S. Army had included riflemen since the American Revolution alongside the more common musket armed infantry. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, a block mounted blade front sight, notch rear sight, "US/P/JN" on the barrel at the breech, "182x" (last digit illegible) date on the tang, Partly legible N. Starr & Son maker marking on the lock below the removable brass pan, "MIDDtn/CONN/1841" in three lines at the tail of the lock, and an oval iron patch box door on the right. Period brass repair in the wrist with part of an escutcheon plate above it, period brass inlays on the left of the buttstock, along with the period hand carved name "ELISHA FOWLER" below the cheek piece. No further information has been located in relation to this name.

Good as frontier issued, with a mix of brown and gray patinas on the iron, scattered patches of light to mild pitting and some wear. Stock is also good as sanded and varnished, with various cracks, scattered dents and scratches, and the mentioned period brass repair visible in the wrist showing a charming aged patina. Mechanically fine.