The Model 1811 pistols are among the rarest of all U.S. martial pistols with only 606 manufactured c. 1811-1812 before the transition to the Model 1811 Transition and then the Model 1813 pistols which both featured double strap barrel bands instead of pinned barrels. These pistols would have seen use in multiple early U.S. conflicts including the War of 1812. This particular pistol might be the pistol in the bottom right of the group image of "The Simeon North Collection of Guns" seen on page 339 within the article "The Origin of Interchangeable Parts" by Thomas Coulson, Director of Museum Research at The Franklin Institute, from 1944. This pistol and other arms were part of a collection donated to The Franklin Institute by Simeon North's great-grandson Ralph H. North, co-author of the book "Simeon North: First Official Pistol Maker of the United States." Simeon North was one of the key American martial arms manufacturers from the early national period into the early 1840s and one of the key figures in the development of interchangeable parts manufacturing. The lock is marked "eagle/U.STATES." in front of the cock and "S.NORTH/BERLIN/CON" at the tail. The interior of the lock is marked with an "H," and various components have either "t" or "tt" assembly marks. The barrel is marked with "V" and "P/US" on top at the breech and another "P" on the tang. Henry H. Perkins' "V/HHP" cartouche is on the left stock flat. A hickory ramrod is fitted under the barrel and held by a single brass ferrule and the channel in the stock.

Fine overall as cleaned and re-oiled with light gray patina on most of the iron along with some minor pitting, aged patina on the brass flash pan and furniture, minor marks and scratches on the metal and revarnished wood, and general minor wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: Ralph H. North, great-grandson of Simeon North, and The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.