Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNewsAbout Us
Create Account
Login
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNews & EventsAbout Us
Login
Create Account

History Lives Here

Rock Island Auction Company
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
RIAC Rock Island
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
RIAC Bedford
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Navigation
  • Auctions
  • Consignment
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • News
  • About Us
More Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Job Postings & Careers
  • Contact
  • Order a Catalog
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
  • Auction Catalog #4094
  • Lot #94
Lot #93
Lot #95

Lot 94: J. P. Lindsay "Young America" Two-Shot Superposed Load Pistol

Rare Civil War Era "Martial Size" J. P. Lindsay Two-Shot Superposed Load Pistol

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: May 2, 2025

Lot 94: J. P. Lindsay "Young America" Two-Shot Superposed Load Pistol

Rare Civil War Era "Martial Size" J. P. Lindsay Two-Shot Superposed Load Pistol

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: May 2, 2025

Estimated Price: $6,000 - $9,000
Price Realized:
Login to view
Login to view

Rare Civil War Era "Martial Size" J. P. Lindsay Two-Shot Superposed Load Pistol

Manufacturer: Lindsay John P
Model: Young America
Type: Pistol
Gauge: 45
Barrel: 8 1/2 inch part round
Finish: blue/bright
Grip: walnut
Stock:
Item Views: 423
Item Interest: Average
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 109
Class: Antique
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and has some oxidation and pitting.
Description:

This is among the rarest of Civil War era American percussion pistols. Only 100 are estimated to have been manufactured by the Union Knife Company in Naugatuck, Connecticut, in the early 1860s for John P. Lindsay per "Flayderman's Guide". Lindsay was a former employee of the Springfield Armory and reportedly lost his brother to an Indian attack and sought to prevent other families from suffering the same loss. His brother had been armed with a conventional musket and was able to neutralize one of his two attackers, but, with his only shot spent, his second, likely furious, assailant was able to overpower him, kill him, and take his scalp. Lindsay believed a second shot would have saved his brother's life and thus set about finding a way to provide one. His answer was three sizes of two-shot pistols and the Model 1863 rifle-musket. Firearms with multiple loads in a single barrel had been experimented with since at least the 16th century, but they were never widely adopted because they were potentially dangerous to their users. The bullet from the second load was supposed to provide a gas seal and thereby prevent both charges from going off at once; however, if the wrong hammer released or there was a gas leak, both charges could ignite at once creating at minimum excessive recoil and very likely exploding or otherwise disabling the weapon. Multiple discharges were apparently not uncommon with the Lindsay Model 1863 rifle-muskets issued to the 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry at Peebles Farm, Virginia, in 1864 either due to errors in safely loading the weapons in the heat of battle or because of weapon malfunctions. This attractive example has the standard brass "knife blade" front sight on a barrel with round front section and reinforced rear section marked with the matching serial number on the bottom and "LINDSAY'S/YOUNG-AMERICA/PATENT'D. OCT. 9 1860." on top at the breech. The "gunmetal" (bronze alloy) frame has a notch between the two hammers for a rear sight and the matching serial number on the bottom at the breech and left side under the grip at the toe. The matching serial number is also marked on the grips.

Rating Definition:

Fine with 50% original blue finish, some pitting visible on the breech section, attractively aged patina on the fine brass action and trigger guard, and mild overall wear. The grips are also fine and retain 80% of their original varnish finish and have small dents and scratches and lower edge wear. Mechanically fine. This is a solid example of the "martial size" Lindsay superposed pistol. These are hard to acquire, especially in fine condition such as this example.



Customer Product Questions

There are currently no customer product questions on this lot

    Related Items

    Lot #732: Factory Engraved Belgian Browning Superposed Over/Under Shotgun

    Lot #1180: Factory Engraved Belgian Browning Superposed Over/Under Shotgun

    Lot #727: Browning Citori Over/Under Shotgun

    Lot #730: Remington Model 3200 Competition Over/Under Shotgun

    Lot #1179: Ruger Red Label Over/Under Shotgun

    Lot #1128: Browning Superposed Shotgun Tube Set with Case