Simeon North was one of the most influential arms makers of the early republic beginning with manufacturing the first U.S. martial pistol, the North & Cheney Model 1799, and finally ending with the Model 1843 Hall carbines right up to his death in 1852. He was influential in developing the first milling machines and establishing truly interchangeable parts on U.S. martial arms. He manufactured 6,501 of these Model 1840 Hall carbines in 1840-1843. 6,001 of them were the standard Type II with the distinctive "fishtail" shaped breech lever. The vast majority of these were smoothbore, and some were later bored out to larger calibers and rifled. This example however remains in .52 caliber and is rifled. It has a "fishtail" lever, where most rifled examples have the elbow pattern. A small number of 1840 production carbines, mostly the Type I variant, are known to have been rifled. Aside from the rifling, it has standard sights and markings. No sling bar with filler screws on left side. Right stock flat marked with a circled script "WAT" (William A. Thornton) cartouche, and left stock flat marked with a circled script "EB" (Elizur Bates) cartouche. "GDM" (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Fine, retaining 50% plus of the original brown finish with gray patina on the bands and a few light scratches. 70% of the original dark oil quenched casehardened finish remains on the breech block and hammer. Stock is fine with defined edges, scattered light scratches and dings, some pin sized holes on the right of the buttstock, and fine cartouches. Mechanically excellent.