This exceptional U.S. Model 1842 Percussion Pistol was manufactured by Henry Aston of Middletown, Connecticut, in 1850. Henry Aston manufactured approximately 24,000 Model 1842 pistols between 1846 and 1850 for the U.S. Government. The pistol has a round smoothbore barrel with brass front sight blade and swivel mounted button head ramrod. The lock and barrel are National Armory Bright. The distinctive combination barrel band/side plate, trigger guard, buttcap and back strap are brass. The stock is oil-finished black walnut. The lock plate has the first style Aston markings which consist of "U.S/H.ASTON" roll-stamped in two lines in front of the hammer and "MIDDTN/CONN/1850" stamped vertically behind the hammer. The barrel tang is dated "1850". The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the property, final inspection and proof marks "U.S./GW/P". The Ordnance sub-inspector's initials "JH" are stamped on the left barrel flat just above the edge of the stock. Ordnance sub-inspection marks consisting of single "W" or "H" are visible on all major components. An Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "JH" in an oval is stamped on the left stock flat. The Model 1842 Percussion Pistol was the last single shot percussion handgun to see service with the U.S. Army. Model 1842 Pistols saw extensive use during the Mexican War and were still in limited use at the start of the Civil War. The Model 1842 Percussion Pistol was a well-designed, robust, weapon that represented the final development of the single shot "horse pistol".