High quality, belt-sized, flintlock pistol made by Simeon North of Berlin, Connecticut as part of a contract awarded by the State of Connecticut for officer's pistols in 1797 in order to help fulfill the State's obligation under the Militia Acts of 1792 to arm their militia. Originally a scythe maker, Simeon North entered the arms trade with the assistance of his neighbors, Ellis Beckley Senior and Junior. Beckley Senior held a State contract for pistol production, and in order to meet the demand worked with Governor Matthew Griswold to secure the 1797 pistol contract for North. The pistol has a .54 caliber, smoothbore, pin-fastened octagon barrel. The top barrel flat bears the copper, oval North cartouche and the oval Connecticut stamp of approval. The barrel has a dovetail mounted brass front sight. A V-shaped, iron rear sight is mounted on the tang. The flat-faced lock plate has beveled edges and stepped rear with tail. The lock has a detachable, fenced, iron pan and distinctive North double yoke hammer. The walnut stock has a relief-carved, shell-motif beavertail around the barrel tang and relief carved edges surrounding the lock plate, trigger guard and ramrod tailpipe. The stock has a bone forend tip. The ramrod pipes, side plate, squareback trigger guard and buttcap are brass with simple scrollwork surrounding martial designs. The pistol has a swelled hickory ramrod with ebony tip. This is a high quality pistol and one of the very first martial pistols manufactured by Simeon North.

The pistol shows moderate handling wear but remains in very good overall condition. The barrel has a silver-gray patina with scattered age discoloration and moderate to heavy pitting surrounding the flash hole. The North and Connecticut cartouches on the top of the barrel show heavy wear. The pistol appears to be an expert old re-conversion. The brass furniture is in good condition with moderate handling wear. The stock is in good condition with moderate handling wear on the relief-carved borders and scattered light handling marks. This is a rare and highly desirable example of one of the earliest Simeon North martial pistols, the Model 1797.