Only several hundred of these rare pistols were manufactured by the Union Knife Co. in Naugatuck, Connecticut, in the early 1860s based on John P. Lindsay's patent. He was a former employee of the Springfield Armory and was inspired to produce a multi-shot weapon after losing his brother to a Native American attack while he was armed with a conventional single shot musket. Accounts differ on what transpired, but the warriors likely drew his fire and then attacked while he was reloading which was a common Native American tactic. Supposedly the fact that his superposed load weapons appear at first glance to be single shots was meant to counter such strategies. The pistol has a rounded brass blade front sight, groove rear sight, two hammers, a single spur trigger, engraving of the a coat of arms and panoply of arms flanked by a lion and eagle on the left side of the barrel, a stag on the left side of the frame, a dog on the right side of the frame, scrollwork around the "LINDSAY'S/YOUNG-AMERICA/MAN'F'D BY/J.P. LINDSAY-MAN'FG-CO./NEW-YORK" on the right side of the barrel, and the serial number on the bottom of the barrel, left side of the toe, and inside of the grips.

Very good with gray patina and minor pitting on the barrel, traces of original case colors on the hammers and trigger, attractively aged patina on the fine frame, distinct engraving and markings, and mild wear. The grips are fine and have strong original finish, mild edge wear, and some dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.