Desirable US Model 1836 Pistol by Waters, no serial number, .54 Caliber, 8.5″ barrel with a very good, lightly pitted bore. This is an 1837 dated pistol by Asa Waters of Millbury, Massachusetts, and so marked on the lockplate. The metal was cleaned a long time ago and has an overall mottled gray patina with spots of darker freckling scattered about, heaviest towards the muzzle and around the base of the hammer. The gun was converted from flintlock to percussion at some point using a French-style, ‘snail’ shaped nipple bolster, contoured along the bottom to fit a semi-circular cut-out in what once was the brass pan. The base of the bolster extends for quite a way into the breech-end of the barrel and is similar to known examples converted by J. P. Murray of Columbus, Georgia. The non-standard hammer has a somewhat flat construction with faint but visible tool marks around the pivot screw indicating the conversion was done by a small shop rather than a federal armory. The breech markings are still quite clear, as are the lock markings, “A. Waters, / Millbury, MA, / 1837,” below an eagle head. The walnut stock has been lightly sanded and a newer oil finish added over scattered minor handling marks and small surface blemishes. The left side of the grip has a straight, with-the-grain crack running from the iron backstrap to just behind the still visible inspector cartouche. A second, very short with-the-grain crack runs from the rear sideplate screw head to side flat of the barrel breech, also on the left side. The captive ramrod is original and is in excellent condition. The lock is mechanically tight and fully functional, however the percussion nipple has been battered into a flattened anvil shape with some light surface oxidation as well. These attractive pistols were adopted at the very tail-end of the flintlock era and most were converted, either by the federal arsenals or by various private, state contracted firms just before and during the Civil War. The Confederacy had many on hand when it appropriated the arms stored in federal facilities during the early part of the Civil War and considerable effort went into altering those pistols still in the original flint to the more effective percussion system. This is a particularly nice example and would make a great addition to any collection.
This is an antique pistol and transfers with no federal restrictions.
