Model 1842 Navy Percussion Pistol from the lot of 1200 pistols manufactured by Henry Deringer of Philadelphia between 1842 and 1847. The Model 1842 Navy percussion pistols were the first percussion pistols manufactured and delivered under government contract and the first U.S. government handgun with a rifled barrel. This is a 'Standard Model" 1842 Deringer pistol with deeply rifled, seven-groove barrel and lock plate stamped "U.S./DERINGER/PHILADELa" in three lines below the hammer. Experts believe that Deringer manufactured fewer than 200 Standard Model 1842 Navy pistols. The pistol has a brass post front sight on the barrel and an integral fixed rear sight on the tang. The box lock pistol has a browned barrel, bright finished swivel ramrod, hammer and lock plate and brass barrel band, trigger guard and round buttcap. The walnut stock has a varnished finish.

Fine. The pistol retains approximately 40% of the thin original brown finish on the barrel and bolster. The ramrod/swivel, hammer, lock plate and tang have a smooth, gray-brown patina. There is some scattered flash-pitting and the barrel and adjacent portions of the nipple bolster. The brass barrel band, trigger guard and buttcap have not been polished and have a mellow age patina. The varnished walnut stock is in excellent condition with only light handling wear. The lock markings are crisp. The rifling is deep and sharp. The action is tight and functions well. This is a fine example of a scarce Rifled Barrel Deringer, Model 1842 Percussion Navy Pistol.