This pistol is pictured on pg. 145 of "The Kentucky Pistol" by Chandler and Whisker and listed simply as "Solomen Unlocated." It has been attributed to Virginia or North Carolina c. 1810. It has a lot of early American frontier charm and is plainly but cleanly built. The pistol has iron furniture, lock screw washers rather than a sideplate, and a highly figured curly maple stock with plain forend tip and flat sided wrist with a rounded butt. The swamped smoothbore barrel has blade and notch sights and is signed "Salomon" on top near the breech and "Louis Salmon" followed by another unclear marking on the bottom. The included additional detached lock plate is clearly signed "L. Salomon" in script providing a first initial. The Salomon lock plate has a semi-waterproof pan, frizzen, and frizzen spring with roller attached but does not include the cock or internals. No information has been found on Louis Salomon, but the lock on the pistol is marked "ASKEW & PAXSON/PHILADELPHIA" and Joseph Askew and Richard Paxson were hardware merchants in Philadelphia. They first appear in available directories 1810, and their partnership was dissolved in August of 1821.

Very good with dark gray and brown patina throughout, mild oxidation mainly on the barrel, distinct lock markings, mostly discernible barrel markings, and mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has dramatic flame patterns, a chip and some repairs in the forend tip, general small scratches and minor dents, a couple minor cracks at the upper edge of the left flat, and the same mild overall wear as the metal. Mechanically fine. The L. Salomon lock plate is fine and has gray and brown patina, light pitting, and mild wear. This is definitely a very attractive early American pistol by a talented but apparently essentially unknown maker.