U.S. Navy Model 1842 percussion pistol manufactured by N.P. Ames of Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1844. The pistol has a distinctive box lock action and is fitted with a swivel-mounted, button head, iron ramrod. The tang and smoothbore barrel have a brown finish. The lock plate and hammer are casehardened. The trigger guard, barrel band and round buttcap are brass. The stock is black walnut with an oil finish. The lock plate is marked, "U.S.N./1844" vertically at the rear and "N.P. AMES/SPRINGFIELD/MASS" in three parallel lines below the hammer. The top of the barrel is stamped: "USN/1844/RP/P" perpendicular to the axis of the bore. Two illegible, oval, Ordnance inspection marks are stamped on the left stock flat. The Model 1842 Navy pistol was the first U.S. martial percussion pistol produced under government contract. N.P. Ames manufactured approximately 2000 Navy Model 1842 pistols between 1842 and 1847.

Very good as partially refurbished. The pistol retains 20% of the original brown and 40% casehardened finish. The barrel has a brown patina with large amounts of original finish in protected areas. The brass furniture is covered with an old coat of varnish and is in very good condition. The markings on the lock and barrel are crisp. The lightly sanded and reoiled stock is very good with light handling marks. The inspection marks on the left flat are faint. This is a very good example of the first percussion pistol produced under contract for the U.S. military.