Ames Model 1842 Box Lock Navy Pistol

Mexican American War

.54 caliber smoothbore. 6" barrel secured by a single pinned brass barrel band. NSN. Browned barrel, color casehardened lock, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion pistol with inside hammer box lock action, captive swivel ramrod and brass post front sight. Lock marked in three lines: N.P. AMES/SPRINGFIELD/MASS under the hammer and vertically in two lines at the tail: USN/1843. Breech of barrel marked U.S.N./1843/JCB/P. No markings are noted in the wood. Roughly 2,000 of these interesting US Navy contract pistols were produced by Ames circa 1842-1845. They remained in regular use until the adoption of the Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver in the late 1850s, and for some time thereafter, as single shot pistols were phases out in the navy. A fairly uncommon US Navy handgun in very nice condition. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

About Fine. Bore very good, moderately oxidized with some roughness. Barrel with some nice traces of thinning browned finish, blending with a dull pewter patina. Lock with dusky traces of mottled case colors. Markings remain clear and crisp. Mechanically functional lock. Wood crisp with scattered bumps, dings and mars.

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October 17, 20, 21, or by appointment. Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

[email protected]513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

[email protected]312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Arms, Armor and Militaria

Ames Model 1842 Box Lock Navy Pistol

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