John Hall's innovative breech loading rifles were the first breech loading firearm adopted by the U.S. military and the first firearms to be produced with interchangeable parts. They were meant to be issued to Army rifle units, skirmishers, and flank companies. The Sixth U.S. Infantry, stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, was issued Hall rifles in the spring of 1832, and these rifles were used at the Bad Axe Massacre at the end of the Black Hawk War. The rifles had issues with gas leakage, fouling, and stock breakage, but later examples like this 1838 production rifle saw use through the Mexican-American War and even through the Civil War, typically after having been converted to percussion by the time the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter. Features an offset fixed blade front sight and fixed notch rear sight, a rifled bore correctly with a smooth section inside the muzzle end, and the top of the breech block marked "J. H. HALL/H.FERRY/US/1838" in four lines.

Excellent, retains 90% plus original brown finish and case colors, with a few areas of darkened preservative grease, and crisp breech block markings. Stock is also excellent with attractive original raised grain and rich oil finish, a few light handling marks, and distinct edges overall. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional Harpers Ferry Model 1819 Hall rifle would proudly fill a necessary spot in any U.S. martial arms collection!