This is a scarce example of a U.S. Model 1817 flintlock pistol manufactured by the Springfield Armory in 1818. The Springfield Armory made a total of 1,000 Model 1817 pistols in 1817-1818. These pistols, the Model 1855 Pistol-Carbines and the Model 1911 semi-automatic pistols were the only handguns manufactured by Springfield Armory. These pistols have a complicated history. They were originally started in 1807, but, after producing a sample pistol, 400 locks, and 300 barrels, the project was abandoned because the .69 caliber was considered excessive for pistols. However, Colonel Roswell Lee was hired as superintendent of the armory in 1815 and sought permission from the Ordnance Department to complete the pistols. Note that some sources such as Flayderman's guide incorrectly list him as Robert Lee. He received permission to complete 1,000 pistols for possible use by the U.S. Navy. The parts on hand from origin of the project were not sufficient, so additional parts were also made and used leading to at least two categories of these pistols. This pistol has the desirable "Type I" or "Model 1807" features which include: a gooseneck cock, frizzen spring with spear point finial, projection at rear of the lock plate, and frizzen with curled toe. About 400 of the 1,000 Model 1817 pistols are believed to have the Type I features using the locks originally made back in 1807. The pistol has a .69 caliber smoothbore barrel secured by a double band and is dated "1818" on top at the breech and marked with an oval "P" proofmark followed by an eagle head and "V" view mark on the left. The lock plate is marked "SPRING/FIELD/1818" in three vertical lines behind the cock and stamped with the Springfield eagle and shield motif over "U.S." at the center. The inside of the lock is stamped "B." "EA" is stamped on the trigger plate ahead of the trigger. The left side of the stock is stamped on the flat with two oval inspection marks. The pommel cap has an unusual keyed slot for mounting a shoulder stock and an area of the stock under the cap was drilled out. This pistol may have been a one of a kind factory prototype for experimenting with a shoulder stocked pistol prior to the adoption of the U.S. Model 1855 Pistol-Carbines also manufactured at Springfield. All 1,000 pistols from this contract were still at Springfield in 1850, so one of these pistols would have been a good starting point for experimenting with detachable stocks. There is a small "9" or "6" marked by the slot on the pommel cap similar to the stock numbers stamped on the pistol-carbines.

Fine, as professionally reconverted to flintlock configuration, with most of the metal polished and displaying a light gray patina, flaws in the metal visible above the vent and on the lock plate, mild pitting around the vent and on the back strap, darker patina in the pan, and crisp markings. The refinished stock is very good and has some cracks in the toe, fainter hairline cracks at the tail of the lock and breech on the left, and otherwise minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. This is definitely a very interesting and desirable pistol. U.S. Springfield Model 1807/1817 pistols are very hard to find, and this example may be the only kind of its type extant with modifications for a shoulder stock.