Object Details
- Evans, W. L.
- Description
- Physical Description:
- This .54 caliber U.S. Model 1826 smoothbore flintlock Navy pistol was made by W.L. Evans of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It has iron mountings including an iron backstrap from the tang to the buttcap with an iron belt hook. All the iron parts are browned. The barrel bands are secured by springs. It has a swivel type steel ramrod and a brass flash pan.
- The lockplate is stamped “US/WL/EVANS”. The top of the barrel is stamped “LS US P” and the left side of the stock is stamped “C/IP”. It is also stamped “1830” at the rear of the lockplate.
- History:
- In 1825, John Rogers – a gun manufacturer in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania – could not get enough money to fund his government contracts, so he went into business with W.L. Evans. They produced these Model 1826 pistols between the years 1830 and 1831. Less than 1,000 of these particular pistols were made; making it very rare.
- This pistol was part of a contract for the Navy and is nearly identical to the Model 1826 made by Simeon North. Rogers and Evan’s factory was largely successful until a flood of Valley Creek washed away the entire factory. A new one was never built.
- 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 61.
- Houting, Scott. The Evans Family of Valley Forge: The US Model 1816 Flintlock Musket.” Valley Forge Historical National Park
. - Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 319.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- The Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter Family Collection
- 1830
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.18
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.18
- collector/donor number
- P112L
- Object Name
- pistol
- pistol, flintlock
- Other Terms
- pistol; Firearms; Navy; Flintlock; .54 In; Smooth Bore; Muzzle Load; Sa
- Physical Description
- metal (part material)
- wood (part material)
- Measurements
- overall: 13 1/2 in; 34.29 cm
- overall: 2 1/4 in x 14 in x 5 7/8 in; 5.715 cm x 35.56 cm x 14.9225 cm
- place made
- United States: Pennsylvania, Valley Forge
- 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_438549
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-9cc5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
