Object Details
- associated institution
- Committee of Safety
- unknown
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .67 caliber smoothbore flintlock pistol was made for the Light Dragoons. It has brass furniture, a pin fastened stock, a single ramrod pipe, a wooden ramrod with a swelled tip, and a raised beaver tail carving on the stock around the tang.
- The lock plate is stamped “US” under the flashpan. “U.STATES is stamped into the stock by the trigger guard. “LD” and “US” are stamped on the barrel
- History:
- After the French and Indian War, the British Army recognized the necessity for a pattern pistol to be created for Light Dragoon Regiments. A version was made that became popular in England. This Light Dragoon is copied from a British Dragoon pistol and similar to the Rappa Forge pistols made by James Hunter in Virginia.
- It was made for use during the Revolutionary War. The initials “LD” stand for Light Dragoon. Both the 1st Continental Light Dragoons led by Commander Bland and the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons led by Colonel Talmadge carried these types of pistols. After the Revolution, these pistols remained popular until the New Land Pattern Pistol became popular in the early 1800s.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Military Heritage Site. “British Light Dragoon (Cavalry) Pistol: American Revolution – Napoleonic Wars,” Arms Collection < www.militaryheritage.com/pistol7.htm>.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 40.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- The Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter Family Collection
- ca 1779
- ID Number
- 1989.0149.01
- accession number
- 1989.0149
- catalog number
- 1989.0149.01
- collector/donor number
- P73L
- Object Name
- pistol
- pistol, flintlock
- Other Terms
- pistol; Firearms; Flintlock; .67 In; Smooth Bore; Muzzle Load; Sa
- Physical Description
- metal (part material)
- wood (part material)
- Measurements
- overall: 14 7/8 in; 37.7825 cm
- overall: 14 7/8 in x 6 in x 2 1/4 in; 37.7825 cm x 15.24 cm x 5.715 cm
- place made
- United States
- See more items in
- Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
- Military
- The Bitter Collection of Firearms
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_438590
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-b225-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
