Confederate Style Brazed Bolster Alteration of a US Model 1836 Pistol with New Jersey Surcharges

American Civil War

.54 Cal. 8.5" barrel length. NSN. Bright finish, color casehardened lock polished bright, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single-shot percussion altered smoothbore pistol with a captive swivel ramrod a notch rear sight and a brass blade front sight. Lockplate is stamped in four lines forward of the hammer U.S./R. JOHNSON/MIDDN, CONN./1837. Barrel marked with U.S./NWP/P inspection marks at the breech and with a NJ surcharge on the left flat. Numerous small sub-inspection marks are found throughout. Counterpane with a pair of script inspection cartouches, including the JH of Joseph Hannis and the HKC cartouche of Ordnance Officer Henry Knox Craig. A script NJ ownership cartouche is stamped over the HKC cartouche. The pistol is altered to percussion by the brazed bolster system, typical of Confederate alterations with a brass filled hole in the bolster face where the vent was drilled after the conversion. The hammer has a somewhat crudely checkered spur, uncommon on Federal pistol alterations. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good to Very Good. Bore moderately oxidized and spotty with some light pitting. Metal cleaned and polished to bright, with some scattered surface oxidation and discoloration. Markings remain clear throughout. Mechanically functional action. Wood with moderate wear, a tight crack around the upper rear periphery of the lock mortise and showing 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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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

Confederate Style Brazed Bolster Alteration of a US Model 1836 Pistol with New Jersey Surcharges

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