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Pair of cased flintlock dueling pistols by S. North, Middleton, Conn. S. North was considered the

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:20,000.00 USD
Pair of cased flintlock dueling pistols by S.  North, Middleton, Conn. S. North was considered  the
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Pair of cased flintlock dueling pistols by S. North, Middleton, Conn. S. North was considered the very finest of early American flintlock gunmakers and his pistols rivaled London-made arms of the early 19th century. He was historically important as he was the first pistol maker for the US Government and continued his relationship as an arms maker for the government for decades. He made the extraordinary investment of $100,000 in 1822 to build his gun factory at Middleton. The factory was visited by James Monroe, Secretary of State John C. Calhoun, and the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824. This contract of 1813 demonstrated the first appreciation of interchangeable parts. He was the first American gunmaker to substitute steel for iron in the production of gun barrels. Only a handful of flintlock dueling pistols by this maker are unknown and this set won a silver medal from NRA with Award Certificate, which are included. The pistols measure 15-3/4” overall, with 9-3/8” medium weight barrels of .52 caliber smoothbore. The pair are double gold-banded at the breech with gold maker’s cartouche and gold lining around touch hole. The pistols are half-stocked in select