Object Details
- Guest, John
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .58 caliber smoothbore flintlock U.S. Model 1808 pistol was made by John Guest of Lancaster, Pa. The locks were made by Drepert, a sub-contractor. It is full pin fastened with a walnut stock, brass mountings, a wooden ramrod, and a reinforced double neck hammer.
- The lockplate is stamped “DREPERT” under the flash pan and “US” by the rear. “J GUEST” is stamped in script on the top of the barrel by the breech.
- History:
- John Guest opened at factory at Lancaster Borough in Lancaster, Pa. He was in production from 1802-1809. He produced many rifles and Model 1807 pistols for contract. It is known that the lockmaker Drepert was his main contractor.
- Guest’s pistols were ordered under U.S. government contract from Tench Coxe. Coxe was a controversial character during this time period. President Thomas Jefferson named him Purveyor of Public Supplies from 1803-1812. Before that however he was a loyalist to the British government.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 80.
- Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 214.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- The Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter Family Collection
- ca 1808
- ID Number
- 1987.0014.08
- accession number
- 1987.0014
- catalog number
- 1987.0014.08
- collector/donor number
- P105L
- Object Name
- pistol
- pistol, flintlock
- Other Terms
- pistol; Firearms; Army; Flintlock; .58 In; Smooth Bore; Muzzle Load; Sa
- Physical Description
- metal (part material)
- wood (part material)
- Measurements
- overall: 16 in; 40.64 cm
- overall: 16 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in x 2 1/4 in; 41.91 cm x 13.97 cm x 5.715 cm
- place made
- United States: Pennsylvania, Lancaster
- 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_438539
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-2146-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
