Model 1817 Type II flintlock pistol manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1818. Springfield Armory manufactured 1,000 of these massive pistols in 1817-1818. The Model 1817 flintlock pistol, the Model 1855 pistol-carbine and Model 1911 Automatics were the only handguns manufactured by Springfield Armory. The pistol has the distinctive Type II reinforced hammer, lock plate with rounded rear, straight toe frizzen and rounded finial on the frizzen spring. The round smooth bore barrel has double strap iron "Wickham Improvement" barrel band with integral front sight blade. The trigger guard, buttcap and backstrap are iron. The stock is black walnut. The pistol has a hickory ramrod with swelled tip and slotted and threaded iron ferrule. The rear of the lock plate is stamped: "SPRING/FIELD/1818" in three vertical lines. The Springfield Eagle and Shield motif is stamped above "US" in front of the hammer. The top of the barrel is dated "1818" and the left side is stamped with "P/Eaglehead/V" proofmarks. The left stock flat is stamped with two illegible oval inspection marks.

Fair. The pistol has not been cleaned or altered and appears to be in the original flintlock configuration. The barrel, lock and iron furniture have an untouched, dark brown patina. The barrel breech has moderate to heavy flash pitting and the markings are light but legible. There is light pitting on the hammer, frizzen, pan and lock plate; the Springfield eagle motif is faint. The stock has moderate-heavy handling wear with rounded edges and faint but visible inspection marks. The stock has several very minor hairline cracks and no repairs. This is an completely original, untouched example of a scarce Springfield Model 1817 Flintlock pistol.