Produced on order from the British Board of Ordnance to a group of Birmingham arms makers, the 1913 Indian Contract arms were produced with the intent to arm Native American tribes to fight against the Americans in the War of 1812, including Tecumseh's Confederacy, which captured Fort Detroit before falling back into Canada and being defeated at the Battle of Thames. Following successful campaigns against the British and Indians, fallen and surrendered weapons would be inspected, and if found to be within repair were sent to the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia to be refurbished. The refurbishment team at Schuylkill was originally established in 1811 to repair old French musket for use, and remained in operation through 1815. This is an example of a British Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol that was manufactured by Thomas Lowdnes around 1813. The pistol has the regulation "Broad Arrow" property mark on the lock plate and Birmingham proofmarks on the barrel. An illegible store keepers mark and date are stamped on the right side of the grip. The stock has arsenal quality repairs and the left flat is stamped with the "IJT" mark of Jonathon Tucker who repaired the stock and a "V" indicating that the pistol was repaired and inspected at the Schuylkill Arsenal which was headed by the store keeper, John Taylor. The pistol has a pin-fastened, round smoothbore barrel. The lock plate is flat with a pointed tip and has an integral iron pan and reinforced gooseneck cock. The ramrod pipe side plate, buttcap and trigger guard are brass. The stock is oil-finished, English walnut. The pistol has a wooden ramrod with flared tip.

Good as reconverted to flintlock. The barrel and like have a smooth, brown-gray, patina. There is light to moderate flash pitting surrounding the flash hole and on the adjacent portions of the lock plate, pan and hammer. The brass furniture has not been polished and has a mellow age patina. There are two well executed arsenal repairs on the underside of the stock near the trigger guard finial. The pistol shows moderate-heavy service wear and the British markings and Schuylkill Arsenal markings are faint and only partially legible. This is an interesting War of 1812 British 1813 Board of Ordnance Pistol with U.S. arsenal markings that originated as a battle field pick-up or Indian surrender.